This week, content creators using Photoshop encountered a new notification window informing them of changes to the terms of service. While such notifications are not unusual, Adobe's recent amendments push the boundaries of acceptability. The company now claims the right to access work created using its software for numerous purposes, including training artificial intelligence.
The updated terms of service, listed on Adobe's website, have been effective since February 17 of this year and appear to apply to all Adobe applications. However, this week marked the first time Photoshop users saw the popup window. Among the various sections detailing these new changes, section 2.2 encapsulates the core message:
Naturally, content creators have not taken well to these new rules. Sam Santala, founder of Songhorn Studios, criticized Adobe on X (formerly Twitter), expressing frustration over being forced to grant the company full access to his work to continue using Photoshop. Similarly, filmmaker Duncan Jones expressed anger, criticizing Adobe for its intrusive demands on creative work produced using their software.
The Adobe popup effectively blocks creators from using Photoshop unless they agree to the updated terms of service. Santala noted that he couldn’t even uninstall Photoshop without first accepting the changes, effectively forcing creators into a dilemma: either grant Adobe unlimited access to their work or render Photoshop useless.
