Adobe faces class action over subscription design that 'traps' consumers
Two plaintiffs claim Adobe's enrollment flows deliberately hide year-long commitments behind monthly-looking plans. Most damning: an exec called hidden termination fees "a bit like heroin for Adobe," suggesting retention over transparency.
Two California plaintiffs filed a federal class action against Adobe in August 2025, alleging that the company misleads consumers about subscription terms through confusing enrollment processes. Stephanie Wohlfiel and Vianca Marquez allege Adobe's "Annual Billed Monthly" plan appears monthly but locks users into year-long commitments with early termination fees equal to 50% of remaining annual obligations.
The complaint details how Adobe's enrollment process scatters material terms across multiple locations. The only on-page indication of cancellation fees appears as faint gray text stating "Fee applies if you cancel after [date]." Additional details require hovering over an icon to reveal a pop-up - what the plaintiffs call deliberately burdensome disclosure design.
The internal evidence is striking: an Adobe executive reportedly described the hidden early termination fee as "a bit like heroin for Adobe," suggesting the company views these fees as a revenue source rather than legitimate contract terms.
The lawsuit targets violations of California's consumer protection laws, including the Unfair Competition Law and False Advertising Law, and seeks class certification for all consumers who paid early termination fees or full annual contracts within the past four years. The FTC brought its own enforcement action against Adobe under the Restore Online Shoppers' Confidence Act, creating dual pressure from regulatory and private enforcement.
For subscription product teams, Adobe's situation shows how UX decisions around disclosure placement, text formatting, and cancellation flows can become evidence of intent to deceive. The comments section reveals widespread impact - users saying "This happened to me" and "Still waiting on a refund" - indicating problems beyond isolated complaints that litigation can now surface at scale.
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