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Topic: Acrobat 6 SDK : $$$$$$
Conf: (P-PDF) Acrobat 6.0, Msg: 88757
From: vkatalov
Date: 6/2/2003 06:28 PM

On 5/31/2003 4:47:55 PM, sragazzi wrote:
>Hello,
>
>It seems that now you have to
>pay and become an ASN partner
>if you want to download the
>Acrobat SDK.
>
>I find this method scandalous.
>
>Adobe wants more and more
>money....

Have you looked at new "Reader Integration Key License Program"? The details are available here:

http://partners.adobe.com/asn/tech/pdf/ikla.jsp

To the best of my recollection, the Reader Integration Key for Acrobat 4/5 was just $100 (per company). Now Adobe asks for much more money:

"Q: How much does it cost to get a Key?
A: The cost depends on how your plug-in will be used. Keys for plug-ins that are used within and exclusively for your internal organization cost $1000. Keys for plug-ins that are distributed commercially, or outside your organization cost $2500.

Q: If I have multiple plug-ins, do I need multiple Keys?
A: Yes. Each plug-in requires its own Key. However, if your plug-in is available for multiple platforms (for example, both Macintosh and Windows), you can apply and pay once, and get the necessary Keys for all platforms."

So, it is $2500 per plug-in.

Besides, there are a lot of things that plug-in CANNOT do (according to license). It cannot, for example, "add functionality to Reader that is substantially similar to functionality in a commercially available Adobe Acrobat", "extract and save any content from a PDF file" etc. Finally, here is the thing I like most:

"Without additional permissions from Adobe, you may not do the following:

- Create any service that includes Reader and the exchange or distribution of encrypted or certified documents
- Control document access and/or display content using digital rights management service or technology (DRM)"

So, Adobe even does not allow to develop your own PDF protection...

Adobe definitely don't want any competition.

Kurt, will you publish an article about that at PlanetPDF site, if we will write one? ;)

--
Sincerely yours,
Vladimir

Vladimir Katalov
Managing Director
ElcomSoft Co.Ltd.
Member of Russian Cryptology Association
mailto:info@elcomsoft.com
http://www.elcomsoft.com (Corporate site)
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