Yes, Creative Suite 2 is legally free to use.
Yes, Creative Suite 2 is legally free to use.
Yes, offering something for free typically means it is permitted under the law.
It's free, but there's a very good reason why it's free. My message to anyone that wants the CC suite but doesn't/can't pay for it: If you're not willing or not able to pay for the subscription free, then it's not for you. Please don't pirate CS6 either. The only reason companies don't crack down on pirating is because it's more expensive to do that than to let the pirating continue.
Is that really the case? Looking at students, their "student subscription" remains quite costly, and it’s likely many can’t afford CC. Beyond that, why does Adobe focus so much on profiting from students? I’m used to getting free tools from Microsoft (Visual Studio), Autodesk (any software with a 3-year license), Unreal Engine (when it used subscriptions), because they realize giving students access might turn them into paying customers later. They don’t see that perspective, and honestly, I can confidently say that over 90% of first-year students (around 200 people) used pirated versions of CS/CC. I don’t support piracy, but I understand why it happens with software priced at $20 per month for students who often earn very little from part-time jobs. The software doesn’t generate enough value to justify the cost, especially since it rarely recoups its price in professional use. There’s no logical reason for them to charge students unless they have a near-monopoly like Photoshop, while other options have better competition.
The price seems reasonable. You could earn quite a bit in tips if you work as a student in a restaurant or on the street. Also, a few bottles of liquor unused would easily cover the expense. I believe Adobe should extend their trial period even more for students.