Press Release

Adobe Announces New Pricing and Distribution for its Digital Rights Management Software

Latest Version of Content Server Allows Up to Four Downloads Per Purchase and No Per-Transaction Fees

January 15, 2002

SAN JOSE, Calif.--Adobe Systems, the leader in network publishing, today announced a new pricing structure for Adobe® Content Server 2.1, the company's digital rights management (DRM) software for Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) based content. The new pricing model is designed to open new opportunities for publishers, distributors and retailers to expand their eBook and electronic content distribution offerings. Content Server 2.1 is available directly from the Adobe Web site at ebooks.adobe.com.

Content Server 2.1 pricing is now based on a two-tier scale to better address the needs of electronic content providers and distributors. The first tier is based on the number of titles managed and distributed by the Content Server. For example, a corporation or publisher who wishes to distribute a specific number of documents to employees or customers would use the tier-one scale. The second tier supports the application service provider (ASP) market and is based on the number of destination sites served by the Content Server, regardless of the number of titles. A value-added reseller (VAR), for example, setting up digital content stores for online retailers would use the tier-two model, paying on a per-store basis.

"Demand for Adobe Content Server continues to grow as companies look for a powerful enterprise solution," said James Alexander, director of eBooks at Adobe. "This release opens new opportunities for resellers to deliver a scaleable, digital content distribution tool to a new customer base including corporations, universities and libraries. As companies distribute more and more sensitive information electronically, the need to manage content through a DRM system has never been greater."

"Adobe offers a wide variety of options to configure and host secure digital content sites for our customers," said Steve Potash, president of OverDrive, a leader in DRM services for digital content for publishing, education, business, entertainment and enterprise markets. "The need for rights-managed content started with eBooks, and it has grown as additional applications emerge. Because it is based in Adobe PDF, Adobe Content Server is an optimal solution to support this growing market for secure, digital content."

Adobe Content Server 2.1 links together key functions of the electronic content distribution chain -- from creation to delivery. Content creators can create their documents for printing and electronic distribution in eBook-friendly authoring applications such as Adobe InDesign® 2.0 and Adobe FrameMaker®. Publishers and retailers can more easily encrypt and distribute Adobe PDF documents to their target markets online. With a few clicks, content is ready to be safely delivered to customers everywhere. Adobe Content Server 2.1 now enables readers to download encrypted PDF files on up to four different PCs, Macs, laptops, or handheld devices at no extra charge.

Pricing and Availability

The Adobe Content Server is available through Adobe distributors and license centers worldwide and can also be licensed directly from ebooks.adobe.com. The pricing model is as follows:

  • Tier one: Content-based pricing is a one-time fee of $5,000 (U.S.) for one Content Server destination site capable of hosting 250 titles. Expansion packages are $1,000 (U.S.) per additional 500 titles.
  • Tier two: ASP-based pricing is $10,000 (U.S.) for the Content Server linked to one destination site, hosting an unlimited number of titles. Additional destination sites for Content Server are $1,500 (U.S.) each.

About Adobe Systems Incorporated

Founded in 1982, Adobe Systems Incorporated (http://www.adobe.com/) builds award-winning software solutions for network publishing, including Web, ePaper, print, video, wireless and broadband applications. Its graphic design, imaging, dynamic media and authoring tools enable customers to create, manage and deliver visually-rich, reliable content. Headquartered in San Jose, Calif., Adobe is the second-largest PC software company in the U.S., with annual revenues exceeding $1.2 billion.