NAPL, NAQP & Coalition Encouraged by Latest Adobe Action to Remove Link
NAPL (www.napl.org), trade association for excellence in graphic communications management, the National Association of Quick Printers (NAQP), a member of the NAPL Network, and The Graphic Communications Coalition for Open Competition have been notified by Adobe Systems that the latest releases of the company’s Acrobat and Reader programs (Version 8.1.1) no longer contain a “Send to FedEx/Kinko’s” link. The updated software is now available for manual download from the Adobe website at www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html The automatic update manager portion, which will notify current users of update availability, will not, however, be operational until early November.
”We are happy to report that Adobe has taken this latest action toward fulfilling their August agreement to discontinue the software link. On behalf of the NAPL Network and the Coalition for Open Competition, we look forward to Adobe’s completion of the next step–automatic user notification–in November,” said NAPL President and Chief Executive Officer Joseph P. Truncale. “We have been gratified by Adobe’s professional and timely response thus far and continue to appreciate their efforts to fulfill their promise to the Coalition and the industry. The Coalition will continue to monitor progress towards this important goal.”
NAPL and NAQP were the first major industry associations to express their concerns about the Adobe/FedEx Kinko’s agreement directly to Adobe Systems Chief Executive Officer Bruce Chizen in a June 15, 2007, letter written on behalf of their members and the Coalition for Open Competition, which they had formed in conjunction with the leaders of a number of graphic communications franchise organizations (see below).
Truncale and NAQP President Chief Executive Officer Steve Johnson clearly requested that Adobe extricate itself from the agreement and remove the FedEx/Kinko’s logo and embedded links from Adobe software in a timely manner. In an announcement on August 1, Chizen said the company intended to address the situation in a timely manner, putting in place the process that was completed with the release of the latest software updates. The early actions on the part of NAPL and NAQP to the Adobe situation reflect the ongoing commitment of NAPL and its partners in The NAPL Network-NAQP and the Research and Engineering Council of NAPL-to speak out on issues affecting their members.
In addition to Truncale and Johnson, members of The Graphic Communications Coalition for Open Competition include Kevin Cushing, chief executive officer, AlphaGraphics, Inc.; Andrew Hrywnak, president, Print Three Franchising Corp.; Michael Jutt, executive vice president, Minuteman Press International, Inc.; Richard Lowe, president, Sir Speedy; Carl Gerhardt, president and chief executive officer, Allegra Network; Bob Metzger, vice chairman, International Center for Entrepreneurial Development (ICED); Catherine Monson, president, PIP; Steve Morris, chief executive officer, Signal Graphics (SAMPA Corp); Brian Spindel, executive vice president, PostNet; Ray Titus, president, United Franchising Group; and Tom Tozier, president, Association of College & University Printers.
About NAPL
Chartered in 1933, NAPL is a not-for-profit trade association representing companies in the $100+ billion graphic communications industry and dedicated to excellence in graphic communications management. NAPL’s comprehensive slate of business-building solutions provides company leaders with the strategies, insights, and guidance they can use to make informed business decisions, minimize risk, anticipate change, and profitably grow their business. For more information on membership in the NAPL Network, which includes NAPL, the R&E Council of NAPL, and the National Association of Quick Printers (NAQP), visit www.napl.org or call (800) 642-6275, Option 5.
