Producers of software like Photoshop and Office stand to benefit from user level piracy.

For example, not many students and graphic artists starting out can afford to buy a copy of Photoshop, let alone the entire Creative Suite. If all the talented creative types opt to spend their time learning GIMP instead of pirating Photoshop and learning how to use it, the companies that hire them have no reason to buy the expensive software. In effect Adobe needs users to pirate their software to ensure there are as many people as possible who know how to use it, thus securing the sales to businesses.