License-code-only versions of LR on ebay

I've been trying to get a copy of Lightroom from eBay and have noticed that a few people are selling license-code-only versions, claiming that they are unused licenses.

Can these be legitimate codes or has someone cracked Adobe's code generator?

I suppose they *could* be legitimate.. it's far more likely that they're not.

BrandonSi wrote in post #15531580
I suppose they *could* be legitimate.. it's far more likely that they're not.

I'd be very interested in buying one if they're legit but how could someone legitimately obtain multiple ("6 available") unused licenses? Is there some channel through which a person can obtain these and then resell them at a profit?

To me "could be legitimate" sounds similar to "the Cubs could win the World Series this year" or "our politicians could lower our taxes"... it would be nice, but it just doesn't happen in the real world.

man.. had to bring the Cubs into it.. brutal..

I bought 1 of these. I thought it was a box version but when I received it it was a burned CD with a code written on it. I was bummed but it works. However ill make sure I buy boxed versions in the future.

Another thing worth mentioning is they offer mac OR pc version. Doesn't the retail version have both inside?

BrandonSi wrote in post #15531799
man.. had to bring the Cubs into it.. brutal..

I feel your pain... I was there for '69... and '84... sigh.

i'm guessing these are hacks.

i would think the only way you'd obtain a legit license and yet not have the packaging would be if you downloaded the software and bought the license online with adobe's site. in that case, i think it is in the person's rights to resell the license given he has the proof of purchase included, as i understand their terms.

however, as noted above, no one's going to have obtained 6 of these in that manner.

how's the seller's rating? any complaints about this situation in his feedback? did he gave a response that made sense?

if no feedback, then i think it's pretty clear he is operating illegally.

also, as i said, i think in order for you to resell your license you have to also give your receipt or proof of purchase. correct me if i'm wrong please. so to the person who got the cd and code, if there's no original receipt, then i think your registration is invalid.

Xyclopx wrote in post #15533213
i'm guessing these are hacks.

i would think the only way you'd obtain a legit license and yet not have the packaging would be if you downloaded the software and bought the license online with adobe's site. in that case, i think it is in the person's rights to resell the license given he has the proof of purchase included, as i understand their terms.

however, as noted above, no one's going to have obtained 6 of these in that manner.

how's the seller's rating? any complaints about this situation in his feedback? did he gave a response that made sense?

if no feedback, then i think it's pretty clear he is operating illegally.

also, as i said, i think in order for you to resell your license you have to also give your receipt or proof of purchase. correct me if i'm wrong please. so to the person who got the cd and code, if there's no original receipt, then i think your registration is invalid.

His rating is excellent. No complaints. I asked him about how he got these licenses but received no reply. Guess that's a reply of another kind.

Oh, and by the way, he claims these are never-before-used license keys, so he didn;t get them from the Adobe site as you proposed.

davidgp wrote in post #15533458
His rating is excellent. No complaints. I asked him about how he got these licenses but received no reply. Guess that's a reply of another kind.

Oh, and by the way, he claims these are never-before-used license keys, so he didn;t get them from the Adobe site as you proposed.

well, again, i'm no expert in their license agreement, so if someone is please correct me...

but if you're reselling something you bought you have to provide your original receipt. i think i read that on their agreement somewhere.

and if you are a retailer i am pretty sure you can't sell licenses like that. even adorama when they were giving away the elements/premier software in packages they still shipped this lame shrink wrapped thing with only official cd's and a label with the serial number (non-retail packaging).

i think it's safe to say that if you got a cd with a handwritten # on it you got something illegal.

fyi--i can tell you that lr will allow you to register serial numbers that others have already used, at least for older versions. i have bought a legitimate copy from adorama, but i do know from others that this is true. so just because you can register that # he wrote may not mean anything.

I remember someone selling codes from a"classroom license" where he got (I think) 10 licenses but did not use all of them.
I don't know if it is legal but surely it is not what the license was intended for, and really unethical.

Ask adobe about if your license serial is legit.

Lightroom, unlike photoshop, does not require activation. So serials do work just it might not be legit. You might run into problem like say if you ask for adobe tech support.

he probably has a keygen and just burns copies of the original disc.

pdrober2 wrote in post #15539706
he probably has a keygen and just burns copies of the original disc.

this.

++ ^^ Usually adobe is right on them on ebay!

With the new, much lower price, just buy it retail. It often goes on sale for as low as $125 or even less.

The way I see it, if I have to question whether my software is legit, what's the point of paying a dime for it. I might as well just pirate it myself.