It’s a watch out signal for Apps like Luxogram, Instaframe, and Webstagram as Instagram has planned to hunt down the firms that use words and logos resembling to Instagram and politely request them to close down and call a halt.
Recently, the photo-sharing social network, Instagram updated its guidelines with a revised list of do’s and don’ts. Certain Do’s consist of ‘name your product something that is unique and original to you’ and ‘design your own app icon that represents your brand’.
The ‘don’t’ list consists of more specific items. It says not to use the Camera logos, or the Instagram name or logo and not to use ‘Instagram,’ ‘IG,’ ‘Insta’ or ‘Gram’ in your app name, and don’t use the Instagram stylized font in your product.
Instagram’s rainbow-flagged camera seemed to be copied as many of these apps used logos prominently similar to it. However, most of these apps are designed to boost the Instagram experience. According to TechCrunch, Instagram has started to send out e-mails to those who are offending the app.
Luxogram is one of the companies that received such an e-mail. Instagram wrote that, they appreciate the company’s interest to develop products that help people share with Instagram. Although, they encourage developers to build great apps with Instagram, they cannot allow other applications to look like official Instagram applications or endorsed by us.
Instagram’s trademarks should be used only as specifically authorized under our policies and it’s very important that one develops his own distinguishing branding for their applications and use. Instagram has asked all of these copycat apps to change their branding in a given period of time.
Being Instagram’s parent company, Facebook is also known for cracking down on the re-use of words it uses in its name. Even after having a host of active trademarks listed by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, including the letter “F,” “Face,” “FB,” “Wall,” and “Facepile”; the company has tried to trademark the word “book” last year.