Adobe/Kinko’s Link Has Industry Fuming
Adobe’s decision to add a connection to FedEx Kinko’s Print Online application to its new Adobe Reader 8.1 and Acrobat 8.1 has printers up in arms.
Several hundred in-plants signed a petition of protest that calls the link “an unnecessary and invasive interference in our organization’s business.” NAPL, a trade association for printers, wrote Adobe CEO Bruce Chizen to stress the disappointment of its members. And PIA/GATF issued a statement saying the printing industry “felt terribly betrayed” by Adobe.
The free Adobe Reader 8.1 has a “Send to FedEx Kinko’s” option within the File menu plus a FedEx Kinko’s beacon icon on the main toolbar acting as a button. In the in-plant sphere, this gives in-plant customers an easy way to overlook the in-plant and send work outside the organization, often against policy.
Adobe Senior PR Manager Stefan Offermann did not comment directly on the unfortunate impact the Kinko’s link could have on in-plants, but said, via e-mail, “We value our relationships with all print partners, and we do not believe this deal with FedEx Kinko’s will replace existing relationships we have with our print industry customers and in-house, business print service providers.”
He cited Adobe technologies that can help printers better connect with customers, such as PDF JobReady, which gives print shops a branded direct connection to customers from Reader. Adobe also offers partnership programs through the Adobe Solutions Network, he said.
“Additionally, there is a process for developers to freely create plug-ins for Reader that enable print partners to reach their customers,” he wrote.
After receiving an overwhelming response from printers, Adobe’s senior vice president Johnny Loiacono sent out an e-mail that included the following: “We understand that this announcement has caused concern among some of our partners and key business allies in the print community. Our motivation for the deal was simple: offer customers, who are already printing and shipping through FedEx Kinko’s, a more seamless way of getting their print jobs done. Clearly, the industry did not view our announcement in that way. It was not Adobe’s intent to upset our loyal print partners or in-house print service providers. Adobe has a long history with the print community that we appreciate and value greatly.
“We are currently working to set up a forum with a group of print partners to serve as an advisory council to Adobe on this issue. We will look for ways to accommodate your needs and those of the other members of the print community while respecting our contractual obligations with FedEx Kinko’s. The advisory meeting is tentatively scheduled for July 17.”
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Bob has served as editor of In-plant Impressions since October of 1994. Prior to that he served for three years as managing editor of Printing Impressions, a commercial printing publication. Mr. Neubauer is very active in the U.S. in-plant industry. He attends all the major in-plant conferences and has visited more than 180 in-plant operations around the world. He has given presentations to numerous in-plant groups in the U.S., Canada and Australia, including the Association of College and University Printers and the In-plant Printing and Mailing Association. He also coordinates the annual In-Print contest, co-sponsored by IPMA and In-plant Impressions.
