File Photo:VCG

US Software firm Figma has reportedly started to cut ties with Chinese drone unicorn DJI in compliance with US sanctions. This has put DJI, another Shenzhen-based tech giant after Huawei, in the crosshairs of unabashed US unilateral moves.

In an email sent to DJI, Figma said that it has learned that DJI is named in US issued sanctions and can no longer provide the company access to its software in compliance with US laws, according to the China Securities Journal on Sunday in a post on WeChat. 

Some domestic software firms have swiftly responded with a helping hand minimize the impact of the access ban. 

Figma has started to freeze DJI's accounts, according to the email, adding that "should DJI eventually be removed from the sanctioned parities list, your access may be restored."

DJI has yet to take a position on the reports.

Figma did not immediately respond to a request for comments.

The San Francisco-based software design platform that enables customers to collaborate on software, "raised fresh funding at a valuation of $10 billion," according to a report by Bloomberg in June 2021.

In the immediate wake of Figma's purported access ban, some Chinese product design collaboration platforms, including Lanhu and JsDesign, opted to speak out with timely assistance.

In a post on its WeChat account on Saturday, shortly after the new transpired, Lanhu said its affiliate, MasterGo, has officially packed the functionality of importing Figma documents to help after the access ban. 

Also on Saturday, JsDesign said on its Sina Weibo account that it has verified the access prohibition that has impacted some domestic internet firms and designers, affecting the security of their design assets. 

JsDesign offered to help the individuals and businesses hit by the measure with the transfer and backup of Figma files. 

DJI and Huawei are known as the two Shenzhen-incubated consumer electronics giants that have risen to global prominence.

DJI's overseas sales are more than 80 percent of its total drone sales while its consumer drones make up over 70 percent of the global market, according to a 2021 report on the top 500 global unicorns that put DJI at the world's 28th with a valuation of $23.71 billion.