I just heard some worrying news about Figma. Apparently, they’re sending out legal notices to smaller startups that have features called ‘Dev Mode’ in their products. What’s strange is that they seem to be ignoring bigger companies like Shopify and Wix who also use this term.
It feels like they’re picking on the little guys. This morning, a startup called ‘lovable’ got one of these notices. It’s pretty shocking to see Figma act this way. They’re usually known for being user-friendly, but this move seems really aggressive.
Does anyone know if Figma can actually claim ownership of such a common tech term? It seems like a stretch to me. I’m curious what others think about this situation. Could this backfire on Figma?
This is certainly a concerning development if true. While I’m not a legal expert, it seems highly unlikely that Figma could successfully claim ownership over such a generic term as ‘dev mode’. Many software products have used similar terminology for years.
That said, it’s possible there’s more to this story than we’re seeing. Perhaps Figma is targeting specific implementations or interfaces that they feel infringe on their intellectual property, rather than the phrase itself. Without seeing the actual legal notices, it’s hard to judge.
If Figma is indeed overreaching, it could definitely damage their reputation in the developer community. They may want to tread carefully here. It might be worth reaching out to Figma directly for clarification on their position and intentions. This could all be a misunderstanding or overzealous legal team action.