Distributing Acrobat Reader on CD-ROM

[xavierp]

Dear colleagues. I'm hoping someone can help me determine if it's OK to distribute the Adobe Acrobat Reader installer on a CD-ROM project I'm working on for a client. I tried making some sense of the license on their site but I'm not too good with the legal mumbo jumbo.

Has anyone any experience doing this? Do I need to sign any forms or so?

Thanks for your help!
Xavier

[Baldrick]

Moving you to our other computer section as this is not video related.

[DB83]

Surely, the easier thing to do is to have a html 'Read Me' file on the CD which includes a link to the Adobe page to get the download. Otherwise, I suspect it is your client who would have to apply for the distribution permission and not you.

[aedipuss]

it's freeware, as in you are free to distribute it, but not to sell or make money off of.

[xavierp]

Thanks to all for your replies. I was actually planning to include the link to download the installer but the client will also want the actual the Acrobat Reader installer included on the CD-ROM.

This CD-ROM will be a companion for a book that will be sold retail so technically: Yes, the publishing house will be making money from the sales of the book. Does this affect the distribution of the Acrobat Reader?

Thanks!
Xavier

[aedipuss]

probably not at your end. the reader is free to download/distribute. the publisher may have to pay royalties to adobe for using the pdf format for the book distribution itself though.

[xavierp]

Hi aedipuss, thanks for your feedback however, the question still remains. I'm hoping to get feedback from someone who has actually done this. anyone?

Thanks!

[usually_quiet]

You need to apply for a license to distribute Free Adobe® Reader® on a CD with your project. See http://www.adobe.com/products/reader/rdr_distribution1.html?readstep

No, I haven't distributed it, but it took me all of 2 minutes to type "Adobe Reader" into Google search and find the link regarding distribution.

[Edit]Re-reading your initial post... If you need legal advice, consult a lawyer. Asking for legal advice in a technology forum isn't a good substitute for that. Either you (if you are self-employed), your company (if you work for somebody else) or your client ought to have a lawyer who can be called upon to explain contracts and licences to you when you don't understand them.

If there is additional paperwork to sign after your application is approved, Adobe will let you know in their reply. The lawyer should see that as well.

Actually I suspect Adobe would need to issue the license to your client since they are selling the CD, but you can ask your/their lawyer.