[windows software] Adobe Acrobat Reader & Distribution License Agreement

[NetMan07]

Hi,

 

I want to install 'Adobe Acrobat Reader' on each of our LAN computers so that pupils/staff can view PDFs.

 

Do I need to apply for Adobe's 'Distribution License Agreement' to do this?

 

I've read conflicting views on the internet and their own webpage (linked below) isn't particularly clear because they don't actually define what "distribute" means.

 

https://acrobat.adobe.com/us/en/acrobat/pdf-reader/volume-distribution.html

 

Thanks.

[3s-gtech]

There is a basic reader built into 10 and Edge. Do they need Acrobat Reader?

[LeMarchand]

I would, just to keep it all above board - and to make sure you get lots of emails shilling their products . It's free and doesn't take long.

 

I think the relevant passages are:

 

Both

Acrobat Reader DC and the Acrobat Reader mobile app are free and available for volume distribution. A Distribution Licence Agreement is required for:

Corporations and organisations that want to distribute Acrobat Reader or the Acrobat Reader mobile app on a company intranet site or local network.

 

and

 

Note: You do not need to apply for a Reader Distribution Licence if you prefer to direct users from your website to Adobe.com to download Reader.

 

You'll probably also want the customisation tool: https://www.adobe.com/devnet-docs/acrobatetk/tools/Wizard/index.html

 

There is a basic reader built into 10 and Edge. Do they need Acrobat Reader?

 

I tried to get rid of it once, but had to put it back .

[3s-gtech]

I tried to get rid of it once, but had to put it back .

We managed to wean off AR at v7, been on Foxit Enterprise since. Generally the Windows viewer is good enough, but for staff a decent reader is a good bet.

[NetMan07]

Thanks for the advice.

 

I couldn't decide if by "distribution" they meant organisations putting the full installer (MSI/EXE) file on the "intranet site or local network" for pupils/staff to grab and take away to install anywhere.

 

That is a very different situation to IT simply pre-installing the software on their fixed LAN computers for day-to-day use.

[LeMarchand]

IANAL but AFAICT they're both distribution as you're still providing the software by installing it.

[MartinByard]

From what I understood, you needed the distribute license if you were going to be hosting the installers on your own servers for people to download and then install Acrobat on their own kit.

 

If you were using SCCM (MECM now) or some other software deployment tool and making it available for self service install from a managed portal (or force installing it everywhere) then you didn't need a license.

[slugshead]

I created a customisation using the deployment too to have it auto accepted and a few other annoying first run things removed.

 

Set it as available in SCCM to all devices, if people want it rather than chrome or edge, they can obtain it from the software centre.