Figma and Adobe abandon proposed merger • Hacker News Board

Re: Figma and Adobe abandon proposed merger

#121

Post by duringmath » Mon, Dec 18, 2023, 1:49 PM UTC

xuki wrote: post #98

duringmath wrote: post #85

The US should start doing something about these foreign governments meddling in US business before it's too late. EU and UK and seemingly everyone else is passing laws and setting up bureaucracies specifically to implement unfair trade restrictions and barriers against US companies and they're basically doing it unopposed, you'd think these actions would at least trigger some tariff threats and WTO complains sadly th…

It’s very easy, just don’t operate in said jurisdictions.

That's not how free trade works or not how it's supposed to anyway.

You can't just go after a sector of your trade partner's economy just to compensate for your home sector's deficiencies.

Re: Figma and Adobe abandon proposed merger

#122

Post by jq-r » Mon, Dec 18, 2023, 1:49 PM UTC

vr46 wrote: post #19

Erratic6576 wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah I miss Adobe Lightroom but you don’t get to install it, adobe takes over your computer

It’s total madness, isn’t it. Long time user, from 1-5, then everything fell apart with CC, subscriptions and the clusterfuck of shite installed on my Mac.

I'm in the same boat. A very long time user and I really liked everything about it. When they started pulling that subscription shit with tons of crapware I had enough. Cancelling subscription (even a short one) was also a terrible (I would even call it criminal) experience. Tried couple of alternatives, and frankly I don't like them. They are either slow, got abandoned in a year or have unintuitive workflows.

I would even pay $500 for a LR Classic without all of their other crapware, but they just like that too much to take my money.

Re: Figma and Adobe abandon proposed merger

#123

Post by passwordoops » Mon, Dec 18, 2023, 1:49 PM UTC

robertlagrant wrote: post #28

kwertyoowiyop wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is so far from outlawing. And we are soooooo far from having a shortage of tech startups.

> This is so far from outlawing It's not that far. A bureaucrat will decide if you can exit the way you want to. Still want to fund this venture? > And we are soooooo far from having a shortage of tech startups. Because there hasn't been a fear of them blocking exits.

Or, and this is a crazy idea I know, maybe start a company with the notion that it will be a profitable, long-term success instead of a lottery ticket

Re: Figma and Adobe abandon proposed merger

#124

Post by jenscow » Mon, Dec 18, 2023, 1:50 PM UTC

londons_explore wrote: post #84

hallway_monitor wrote: post #7

It looks like regulators are actually doing their job. I would love to see more of this, along with breaking up companies that have gotten too big for their britches.

The problem is nearly all company mergers, both big and small, are detrimental to competition... Even my local corner store merging with a corner store in the next town over is bad for suppliers (combined negotiations when buying stock), and bad for consumers (prices set the same between the two towns). I wonder what a world where company mergers were banned would look like?

Not disagreeing with you, however some mergers can be good for the consumer.

With your example, the local stores could have joined forces to compete against their bigger competitor: the supermarket.

Re: Figma and Adobe abandon proposed merger

#125

Post by iamleppert » Mon, Dec 18, 2023, 1:50 PM UTC

eigenvalue wrote: post #75

mbauman wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I would expect that to only get paid if solely one side were responsible for blowing up the deal. This is expressly saying both have mutually agreed.

Nope, from Adobe’s 8K filed today with the SEC: “On December 17, 2023, the Company and Figma mutually agreed to terminate the Merger Agreement and entered into a mutual termination agreement effective as of such date (the “Termination Agreement”). The mutual termination of the Merger Agreement was approved by the Company’s and Figma’s respective Boards of Directors. In accordance with the terms of the Termination Agr…

If I was the board I’d be calling for the CEO’s head after loosing $1 billion for absolutely nothing.

Re: Figma and Adobe abandon proposed merger

#126

Post by codeptualize » Mon, Dec 18, 2023, 1:50 PM UTC

That is wild. It's a good thing as it means Adobe won't ruin Figma like they did with so many great software products before, but just imagine founders, investors and employees, thinking they had a really good exit.. That must hurt, I hope they can stay motivated.

If Adobe can't buy them, what other exit options do they have? Go public?

Re: Figma and Adobe abandon proposed merger

#127

Post by mwidell » Mon, Dec 18, 2023, 1:50 PM UTC

max_ wrote: post #112

This really makes me sad as an aspiring entrepreneur. What would be the use of starting a business if the government can arbitrarily block it from being acquired? I understand this happening in Europe but not America. I think America is going to lag behind in tech entrepreneurship just like Europe and I wonder what the next potential tech entrepreneurship hub will be.

Perhaps you could aim to actually make money through your business? As in, selling a product at a profit? Taking dividends? I know it sounds wild, but that's how it went down in the olden days.

Re: Figma and Adobe abandon proposed merger

#128

Post by niek_pas » Mon, Dec 18, 2023, 1:50 PM UTC

max_ wrote: post #112

This really makes me sad as an aspiring entrepreneur. What would be the use of starting a business if the government can arbitrarily block it from being acquired? I understand this happening in Europe but not America. I think America is going to lag behind in tech entrepreneurship just like Europe and I wonder what the next potential tech entrepreneurship hub will be.

How is this 'arbitrary' ("based on random choice or personal whim, rather than any reason or system")?

Re: Figma and Adobe abandon proposed merger

#129

Post by Drakim » Mon, Dec 18, 2023, 1:50 PM UTC

robertlagrant wrote: post #108

joshstrange wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think the state of “build to be acquired” is actually pretty gross and I wouldn’t mind it being pruned back a bit. To call this “overzealous government” is a bit ridiculous. Figma being acquired by Adobe was not good for customers, in most cases the government just allows shit like this to happen, this is the exception, not the rule.

> in most cases the government just allows shit like this to happen Good. Agreements should as much as possible be free between consenting parties. It shouldn't be normal to expect the government to be involved in approving things except where there's a great reason to need it.

Especially things like when a company owns the entire town and pays their workers in scrip. Both the company and worker is a consenting party, so the government should stay out of it.

The problem with this ideology is that will destroy society and reduce it to ashes.

Re: Figma and Adobe abandon proposed merger

#130

Post by replwoacause » Mon, Dec 18, 2023, 1:51 PM UTC

max_ wrote: post #112

This really makes me sad as an aspiring entrepreneur. What would be the use of starting a business if the government can arbitrarily block it from being acquired? I understand this happening in Europe but not America. I think America is going to lag behind in tech entrepreneurship just like Europe and I wonder what the next potential tech entrepreneurship hub will be.

Is the main goal for every entrepreneur to be acquired? Also, there is nothing “arbitrary “ about antitrust laws.