Adobe's $20 billion acquisition of Figma has become a new focus of EU antitrust regulators

CTOnews.com August 7, Figma is a cloud-based collaboration platform for designers and brainstorming that is often welcomed by technology companies such as Zoom Video Communications, Airbnb and Coinbase.

Adobe's $20 billion acquisition of cloud design platform Figma could weaken competition in the global market for interactive product design tools and exclude competitors, the EU's antitrust regulator said on Monday.

The European Commission said it had launched a full investigation into the deal after a preliminary review raised concerns.

The EU's antitrust regulator said the deal would eliminate an important competitor and could allow Photoshop maker Adobe to limit competition in the global market for interactive product design tools.

The EU also said the acquisition could prevent Figma from becoming an effective competitor to Adobe's asset creation tool and curb the development of other suppliers of similar products by bundling Figma with Adobe's Creative Cloud.

"through our in-depth investigation, our goal is to ensure that users continue to have access to a wide range of digital creative tools," said Margrethe Vestager, EU competition commissioner.

The EU's competition enforcement agency said it would decide whether to approve or block the deal by December 14.