Adobe’s Chizen to Meet with Organizations

SAN JOSE, CA—It took a few weeks to sink in, but the printing industry is finally lashing out against Adobe.

Printing associations and a digital user’s group reacted angrily toward Adobe’s June 6 announcement that it would incorporate a “send to FedEx Kinko’s” command in its Acrobat 8.1 application. As a result, Adobe has agreed to meet with several organizations and has scheduled a special forum for July 17 to address the concerns.

The PIA/GATF, noting Adobe’s contributions in transforming the printing process from an analog to a digital workflow—enhancing graphic communications while putting millions of bucks in Adobe’s coffers—said the move “insults industry loyalty.” Michael Makin, president and CEO of PIA/GATF, added that the Adobe partnership left the association feeling “terribly betrayed by the company that has been supported by the printing industry.” Makin found it “unacceptable” that Adobe would give up its neutrality and align with one printer.

NAPL, on behalf of The NAPL Network, and the National Association of Quick Printers (NAQP), sent a letter to Chizen critical of the decision. In it, Adobe’s partnership with the printer is characterized as an unfair competitive advantage for FedEx Kinko’s.

The Digital Imaging Customer Exchange (DICE), with 328 member companies that own color digital presses from Kodak, HP and Xerox, also took exception to the move in light of its members having helped establish Adobe PostScript and PDF as the accepted norm.