New Class Action Targets Adobe's "Dark Pattern" Subscription Practices — A Call For Fairness And Full Disclosure

A new putative class action filed in the Northern District of California alleges that Adobe deceives consumers into year-long, automatically renewing "annual, billed monthly" plans, obscures material terms and early termination fees in fine print and hyperlinks, and makes cancellation unduly difficult. The complaint also challenges Adobe's dispute-resolution scheme, alleging the company refuses to pay arbitration fees and then forces consumers into small-claims court, depriving them of meaningful remedies. The suit seeks damages, restitution, injunctive relief, and a declaration that Adobe's small-claims provision is unenforceable.

What the case is about

• The core allegation: Adobe prominently advertises per month pricing but defaults consumers into "annual, billed monthly" (ABM) commitments, while failing to clearly disclose that the plan auto renews and carries a steep early termination fee equal to 50% of remaining monthly payments if canceled within