Print this article | E-mail this article | Comment on this article

Corel Acquires Jasc Software

By Nate Mook, BetaNews

October 15, 2004, 11:04 AM

Looking to take on Adobe and Microsoft in the graphics arena, Corel has announced the purchase of Jasc Software, maker of the popular Paint Shop Pro image editing tool. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Corel said it plans to continue marketing Jasc software independently and bundled with Corel titles.

"Like Corel, Jasc has consistently delivered innovative, reliable and easy-to-use graphics solutions at a very competitive price point," said Corel CEO Amish Mehta. "This acquisition signals our focus on increasing the breadth of our product family in order to service the broad, growing market of value-conscious consumers and businesses."

Jasc announced the acquisition in an e-mail to users, saying the move will help the company with its new research and development efforts. Corel will take over customer support for Jasc's product line.

"The Paint Shop family gives us strong entry level graphics and imaging software products that will help Corel capture millions of new customers," said Mehta.

Add a Comment (9 Comments)

BetaNews reserves the right to remove any comment at any time for any reason. Please keep your responses appropriate and on topic. Foul language and personal attacks will not be tolerated.

By Choda_Boy

edited Oct 22, 2004 - 1:37 AM

It is a sad irony the only real competition to Adobe Photoshop will now be destroyed. Once again, the big behemoth will win. I can afford to purchase PSP (and I have), but there is no way I could afford Photoslop.

Score: 0

By caddarts

posted Oct 23, 2004 - 12:22 PM

I have NEVER seen Corel take a product and make it better. Goodbye PSP. It was nice knowing you.

Score: 0

By zridling

posted Oct 20, 2004 - 3:19 PM

Corel bought PSP to strip its code and kill the product after one more version (10). While Corel has done well by its CorelDRAW Suite (with PhotoPaint), its WordPerfect Office has become one of the worst debacles in software history. Vector Capital now owns Corel and they have no clue what they're doing. They needed a database product and an outlining program, but instead they bought what they already had — a graphics program! Oy.

Score: 0

By Inray

posted Oct 16, 2004 - 6:50 AM

I wonder how fast Corel will kill PSP, same they did with other acquired applications.
Another great program dies :(

Score: 0

By JEdwardP

posted Oct 16, 2004 - 12:58 PM

I've purchased every version of PSP from 5.0 onward, but fear 9.0 will be the last.

At some point, I may look further into using PhotoImpact; it struck me as being very close to PSP when last I tried it.

Score: 0

By ConceptJunkie

posted Oct 18, 2004 - 1:45 PM

I've purchased every version since 4 (or maybe 3, I don't recall now). I'd used it unregistered (boo!) since version 1 or 2.

Corel tried to become the new Microsoft with no resources to back up such grandiose aspirations, and most of the software packages they acquired are gone.

Maybe they should stick to what they do well instead of just helping to cement Microsoft's monopoly.

PSP is a great package that deserves to survive. It's literally one of the top 5 most useful Windows apps I've ever used.

Good luck, Jasc. I'm afraid you'll need it.

Score: 0

By Mark Gillespie

posted Oct 15, 2004 - 3:23 PM

Bad news for Paintshop Pro fans, Corel have totally ruined every bit of software they have purchased. :-(

Score: 0

By TheRecklessWanderer

posted Oct 15, 2004 - 4:47 PM

You know that was completely my thought.

Can you say Wordperfect Draw.

Now I tell ya, I live near Ottawa, Ontario where Corels HQs is, and there is a big "For Lease" sign draped across the top of the building.

I just dropped $100.00 on 8 (and got a free upgrade to 9, thanks Jasc) so I will be sticking with that for quite some time I am sure.

Score: 0

By GODSSUNSHYNE_03

posted Oct 24, 2004 - 6:28 PM

Oh Wow, This is the final resting place for PSP. I will greive the loss of it. Adios PSP may you find peace and happiness. As for Corel....grrrrrrrrrr. You have not done one good thing for me and this computer but cause havoc.

Score: 0

Nov 21 - 9:29 PM ET Hurd's the word in Ballmer's e-mail nightmares

Nov 21 - 6:51 PM ET Coalition urges better laws for e-mail and cell phone privacy

Nov 21 - 6:42 PM ET How is Internet advertising faring in this bad economy?

Nov 21 - 6:15 PM ET From out of the Amazon Cloud, an AWS winner emerges

Nov 21 - 5:20 PM ET Mufin music finder enters public beta, adds widgets

Nov 21 - 5:01 PM ET Google launches its SearchWiki semantics plug-in

Nov 21 - 4:57 PM ET Asus previews a slimmer, less costly Eee PC

Nov 21 - 4:32 PM ET New Adobe Media Player ushers in AIR 1.5

Nov 21 - 2:11 PM ET AT&T to add Pantech's low-cost C630 phone to 3G lineup

Nov 21 - 1:11 PM ET iPhone gets firmware 2.2 update