Print CEOs Protest New FedEx Kinkos Deal

SAN FRANCISCO - Adobe Systems Inc. has inked a deal with FedEx Kinkos. Starting with version 8.1 (available now), every Adobe Reader has a "Send to FedEx Kinko's" button (see logo next to the printer button on the Adobe tool bar above).

The problem is that most franchise quick printers over the years have worked with Adobe to develop their own version of "send to", or what is technically known as PrintMessenger PDF drivers. Their franchisees seek permission from their customers to install such print drivers. Print jobs are then easily sent from any computer desktop with an Internet connection to a local print franchise in a pdf file, which ensures consistency in format.

All of that has changed with the release of Adobe Reader 8.1., which features a prominent option to print the pdf file at your local FedEx Kinko's.

Adobe hastily arranged a forum meeting with quick print industry leaders in San Francisco on July 17, 2007, after its 8.1 release on June 7. A coalition of quick print franchisors and print associations gathered in a hastily arranged forum to protest. Leaders from Alphagraphics, Allegra, Minuteman Press, Sir Speedy, ICED, PIP and Signal Graphics were among those in attendance.

CEO Michael Makin of Printing Industries of America, a trade association, told Printbuyers Online, "Adobe’s decision to give up its neutrality and try to align its business with one printer is unacceptable. It is our hope that Adobe’s CEO, Bruce Chizen, will realize the mistake that has been made and rectify the situation as soon as possible."

Cary Sherburne in the blog site, What They Think, reports the print coalition at the meeting heatedly affirmed its commitment to remove the button, saying, "Should Adobe Systems not comply with this request, the Coalition will continue to work actively on this issue, exploring any and all options—both legal and otherwise—to have the agreement blocked and to encourage our members to explore alternative applications to Adobe.”

Adobe's Response

Adobe's CEO, Bruce Chizen, attended the meeting for roughly an hour. Chizen stressed, "Adobe had a contractual relationship with FedEx Kinko’s that the company needed to fulfill" but that the company would listen.

John Loiacono, Senior VP of Adobe's Creative Solutions Business Unit, later made this statement on his blog about the meeting:

"We [SVP Loiacono and CEO Chizen] committed to coming back to them within two weeks with a decision on how we will move forward. We are going to do everything possible to find a way to deliver a win - win situation on all sides. It's the right thing to do. Another lesson learned. In the meantime, some good has come out of all of this. We finally got many of the industry leaders in the same room and we spent the last 20 or so minutes of the meeting talking about what we could work on together once we resolve this big hairy issue that is on the table."