US says Photoshop maker Adobe to pay $3 million to settle kickback allegations

US says Photoshop maker Adobe to pay $3 million to settle kickback allegations

Business

Between Jan-2011 and Dec-2020, Adobe allegedly paid kickbacks to government related companies

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Photoshop maker Adobe Inc. has agreed to pay $3 million to settle U.S. kickback allegations involving federal software sales, the U.S. Justice Department said in a statement on Thursday.

The settlement resolves allegations that Adobe made improper payments under its Solution Partner program to companies that had a contractual or other relationship with the government that allowed them to influence federal purchases of Adobe software, the Justice Department said.

Between January 2011 and December 2020, Adobe allegedly paid the companies a percentage of the purchase price of the software, according to the Justice Department.

The United States contends that these payments constituted prohibited kickbacks that resulted in Adobe causing false claims for payment to be submitted to federal agencies.

The company said on Thursday that it had cooperated with the government since it began its probe in 2018 and was pleased "to have this matter behind us."