In what is seen to be a major blunder by Adobe, the company has incorporated a button in the latest release of it's Acrobat Reader that enables users to send their files directly to Fedex Kinko for printing, thus creating a huge controversy in the printing industry worldwide.
Why only Fedex Kinko, the printing world asks?
At this point Adobe has not responded but a satisfactory explanation is expected soon.
Our own industry organisations, on behalf of their members are taking the issue up with Adobe Australia and is looking for answers.
Wide Format Online will keep you posted on this controversial issue.
The following is a press release issued from PIA (Printing Industries Association of Australia).
Printing Industries takes Aussie Printers Fair Go Adobe case to USA
Printing Industries Association of Australia believes a solution can be found to resolve the international controversy that has erupted around Adobes online collaboration with the US based FedEx Kinkos. The move involves the inclusion of a button in the latest Adobe Acrobat and Adobe Reader 8.1 connecting users to FedEx Kinkos printing services.
Printing Industries CEO Philip Andersen said he was surprised and disappointed with Adobes alignment with one international print provider at the expense of tens of thousands of print companies globally who, together with their customers, use Acrobat as a defacto industry standard.
Adobes announcement seems to focus more on new production flow capability of its software without recognising the negative impact such a narrow collaboration could have on its international printing industry customer base who use Adobe products and are competitors to FedEx Kinkos either in the USA or elsewhere, he said.
Adobes own statement tells us that more than half a billion copies of Adobe Reader have been distributed worldwide on 23 software platforms in 26 languages, so this is a very significant move.
Mr Andersen said that while it appeared the intention was to direct document printing to FedEx Kinkos within the USA, the Acrobat button also accesses information on the FedEx Kinkos website directing clients to international offices in nine other countries including Australia.
We have contacted Adobe to both in Australia and in the USA expressing the concerns of our industry and are awaiting a formal response.
We have also been in touch with our sister organisation, Printing Industries America (PIA) who share our concerns. They will be meeting with Adobe officials in the US soon and will also add our concerns to those of US printers.
Adobe has brought much value to our industry over many years and has been well supported in return. We are hopeful Adobe will realise the error of aligning itself with one printer and resolve the situation as a matter or urgency, Mr Andersen said.
Printing Industries Association of Australia
www.printnet.com.au
