Chinese microblogging
website Weibo Corp has taken down an Instagram-like app just three days
after its launch and apologised following accusations of plagiarism
about the app's logo, in a stumble for efforts to find new sources of
growth.
Weibo, launched by Sina Corp in 2009, is one of China's most
established social networking companies alongside the likes of Tencent
Holdings Ltd. But it has been seeking new ways to grow in the face of
competition from startups including short video apps Douyin and
Kuaishou.
The company, backed by Alibaba Group Holding Ltd, launched
image-sharing app Oasis on Monday. Local media likened it to Facebook
Inc's Instagram app as it had a similar interface and allowed users to
browse, share and edit photos and videos through the app. Instagram is
blocked in China.
By Wednesday, it ranked as one of the top free apps on Apple Inc's Chinese App Store.
But Weibo then took the app offline after a microblogger said the
logo was nearly identical to one designed by a Korean movie studio for
the Ulju Mountain Film Festival in 2015.
“We apologise to the designer and also to our friends that care for us!” the app said in a Weibo post.
“We especially thank the user who flagged this to us.” “We have
initiated an internal inspection of our design process and contacted the
designer to solve the copyright issue,” it said.
Oasis said it will relaunch the app “soon”.
A Weibo representative did not immediately respond to an emailed request by Reuters for comment.
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