Adobe is being sued for 'misleading, difficult-to-cancel subscriptions'

The US government is suing software maker Adobe because the company 'hides the terms of its subscription in the small print' and is not clear about the costs in case of early cancellation. These costs can amount to hundreds of euros.

Adobe hides important parts of its terms and conditions in the small print and behind hyperlinks, the US Department of Justice says in the indictment. For example, early cancellation entails high costs, but many subscribers are not aware of this when taking out an annual subscription with monthly payment.

In addition, customers experience a 'difficult and complicated' process if they want to cancel their subscription. The high cancellation fees also discourage customers from canceling, according to the DOJ, the US Department of Justice. The DOJ accuses Adobe of violating federal laws designed to protect consumers from deceptive practices by companies. Adobe allegedly violated the Restore Online Shoppers' Confidence Act and the Federal Trade Commission Act, among other violations.

The US Department of Justice demands in a court order that Adobe stop its 'deceptive practices' and that the software giant compensate consumers for 'unfairly collected costs'. The DOJ therefore wants Adobe to reimburse the revenue from its subscription and cancellation practices.