Finance
UK Regulator Probes Photoshop Maker Adobe Over Cancellation Fee Concerns
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 19, 2026
2 min readLast updated: March 19, 2026
Quick Summary
The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has opened a probe into Adobe over whether its early cancellation fees are unfair or misleading, amid a recent U.S. $150 million settlement over similar concerns.
UK regulator probes Photoshop maker Adobe over cancellation fee concerns
Adobe Faces Investigation by UK Competition and Markets Authority
LONDON, March 19 (Reuters) - Britain's competition regulator has launched an investigation into Photoshop maker Adobe to examine whether its early cancellation fees were unfair and misleading, the watchdog said on Thursday.
Focus of the Investigation
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) will look at whether customers are given "clear and timely information upfront" about early cancellation fees, which are likely to influence their decision to purchase the product, it said.
Adobe's Product Range and Consumer Impact
Adobe's products, such as Photoshop, Illustrator and Adobe Premiere, are widely used by consumers to create and edit content such as photographs and videos.
Statement from the CMA
"From students to content creators, millions of people rely on digital design tools - and they should feel confident that businesses selling these services play by the rules," Emma Cochrane, the CMA's Executive Director for Consumer Protection, said in the statement.
Background and Recent Developments
The probe comes less than a week after Adobe reached a $150 million settlement to resolve a U.S. government lawsuit accusing it of harming consumers by concealing hefty termination fees and making it difficult to cancel subscriptions.
Adobe's Response
In its response to that order on Friday, Adobe said it has in recent years streamlined its sign-up and cancellation processes and made them more transparent.
The company did not immediately reply to a Reuters request for comment on the British regulatory action.
Next Steps and Regulatory Powers
At this stage, the British watchdog has reached no conclusions about whether Adobe has broken the law, it noted in its statement, adding that Adobe was the ninth business it was investigating using its new direct consumer enforcement powers.
CMA's Enforcement Capabilities
The powers allow the CMA to determine whether consumer law has been breached - rather than going through the courts - and take action where wrongdoing is found, including securing consumer redress and imposing fines on companies where appropriate.
(Reporting by Muvija M; Editing by Catarina Demony)
Key Takeaways
- •The CMA is investigating if Adobe failed to provide customers with clear, timely upfront information about early cancellation charges, potentially influencing purchasing decisions (creativebloq.com).
- •Adobe recently agreed to a $150 million settlement in the U.S.—$75 million in civil penalties and $75 million in free services—to resolve allegations that its cancellation fees were hidden in fine print and made cancellations unduly difficult (creativebloq.com).
- •Similar regulatory actions have occurred globally: South Korea fined Adobe for excessive cancellation fees, and evolving UK legislation (Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024) will give the CMA tougher enforcement powers—including fines up to 10 % of turnover (mlex.com)
References
Frequently Asked Questions about UK regulator probes Photoshop maker Adobe over cancellation fee concerns
1Why is the UK regulator investigating Adobe?
The UK regulator is investigating whether Adobe's early cancellation fees are unfair and if information about these fees is clear and timely for consumers.
2Who is conducting the investigation into Adobe?
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is conducting the investigation.
3Which Adobe products are mentioned in the investigation?
Photoshop, Illustrator, and Adobe Premiere are specifically mentioned in the investigation.
4What is the main concern of the investigation?
The main concern is whether consumers are being misled by unclear information about early cancellation fees, potentially influencing their purchase decisions.
5Who relies on Adobe's digital design tools?
Millions of people, including students and content creators, rely on Adobe's digital design tools.
