Figma Issues Cease-and-Desist to Lovable Over 'Dev Mode' Trademark

Figma has initiated a legal conflict by sending a cease-and-desist letter to Lovable, an AI startup, regarding the use of the term 'Dev Mode' for a feature in their product. Figma, which trademarked 'Dev Mode' last year, argues that it needs to protect its brand identity to prevent the term from becoming generic; however, many in the tech community contend that 'dev mode' is a widely used term in the industry, often associated with developer settings. Major tech players like Apple, Google, and Microsoft have employed similar terminology in their products long before Figma's trademark was registered. Lovable's CEO has indicated they currently have no plans to comply with Figma's request, sparking debate over the legitimacy of Figma's trademark. Critics argue that Figma's claim to 'Dev Mode' resembles attempts to trademark common software terms, likening it to trying to claim ownership of 'bug' in programming. The situation highlights tensions in the tech industry over intellectual property rights and the definition of common terminology.