Developers Rejoice. Adobe and Figma’s Marriage is OFF

Photo by Emily Bernal on Unsplash

It’s a stunning turn of events. Adobe’s planned acquisition of Figma has been cancelled, and instead of costing $20 billion for Figma’s assets, Adobe now has to pay $1 billion termination for NOTHING.

On that bombshell, let’s delve into the details of this abandoned deal and explore its broader implications.

The demise of the deal

According to sources such as CNBCTV18, Adobe and Figma decided to terminate the acquisition, citing the lack of a “clear path” to secure regulatory approvals from the European Commission and the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority.

The Secret Developer’s take

“The idea that Adobe needs to pay $1 billion as a termination fee is hilarious and ironic. At the same time as being a company that removed perpetual licenses from small developers, they decided to stand in the way of those who wanted to actually pay for licenses. Not only that, their subscription model is nothing short of digital slavery.

Figma’s rise as a powerful, user-friendly, and collaborative design tool offered a breath of fresh air and actually provided access to tools away from Adobe’s subscription nightmare. 

Adobe’s move to acquire Figma was seen by many in the developer community as another step towards market consolidation, stifling innovation and creativity. The prospect of Figma falling into the hands of Adobe had raised concerns about the future of this beloved tool. Would Figma become another cog in the Adobe machine, losing its unique identity and user-centric approach? ”

The cancelation

“This deal is off! At least preserves the status quo, at least for now, allowing Figma to continue its trajectory independently. We will still be able to use a free tier for Figma and use some of its essential features. We, developers, can scream a sigh of relief that we will still be able to make some choices in terms of the tools we use. 

This will also give Adobe a hot moment to reflect on its impact on the market and why people dislike it so much. Within big tech there might be a pause on large acquisitions as they know governmental bodies will be looking at the impact of these takeovers.

For Figma, this termination could be a blessing in disguise. It retains its independence and can continue to innovate and challenge the status quo in the design tool space.”

Conclusion

The termination of Adobe’s acquisition of Figma is more than just a business transaction gone awry. It’s a narrative of big tech not considering the impact of their actions. 

“Perhaps it’s time we think about the tools we use and their impact on the wider community. Just how are we going to get student and junior developers in the industry if we keep building barriers to entry like subscription fees? It’s time we thought about this.”