Russia Explores Licenses for Foreign Software Amid Import Substitution Push
Russian companies and regional authorities are seeking ways to obtain licenses for similar computer software used abroad, including products from Adobe. As part of the import substitution policy, full-fledged domestic analogues remain scarce. This assessment is based on data from electronic trading platforms that track licenses for foreign services, reported by Kommersant.
Following the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine at the end of February 2022, Adobe decided to halt the sale of its services within the Russian market and to cut off subscriptions for state media. The report notes that other foreign software developers implemented similar stops, reflecting a broader trend among multinational vendors operating in Russia. (Kommersant)
Procurement actors that could secure an extension to their Adobe subscriptions looked toward domestic options with the involvement of entities such as BCS and Ak Bars Digital Technologies. For instance, Krasnodar Airport on April 3 announced it was seeking a price quote to renew Adobe Photoshop, Premiere Pro, and Lightroom licenses for one year starting May 1. In early 2022, the Murmansk city government also explored renewing an Adobe Creative Cloud corporate subscription that was due to expire on January 31. (Kommersant)
Meanwhile, several Russian software vendors continued selling licenses for renewing Adobe corporate subscriptions through partnerships with providers that market goods and services under their own brands. Nikita Korchagin, Director of Graphics Software at Softline, remarked that renewal peaks typically occur in October and November, aligning with budgeting and procurement cycles. (Kommersant)
On January 31, American graphics software company Adobe opened limited access for Russian users to download portions of its software from the official Russian-language site. The available offerings included Acrobat Pro, a tool for handling PDF documents, along with free programs such as Adobe Photoshop Express and Adobe Creative Cloud components. This move illustrates how foreign vendors balance access with regulatory and market considerations in a shifting landscape. (Kommersant)