For context, Hoarder is a bookmarking tool, and it was selected by selfh.st as one of the favourites of 2024
https://selfh.st/2024-favorite-new-apps/
Here is a link to the post, and it has also been copied below (with some extra lines added to fix formatting):
This post could have been about how hoarder reached 10k stars on Github, or about how we spent a day in the front page of hackernews. But unfortunately, it's about neither of those. Today, I received a cease and desist from someone holding the "Hordr" trademark claiming that "Hoarder" infringes their trademark. Quoting the content of the letter:
In these circumstances, our client is concerned, and justifiably so, that your use of a near identical name in connection with software having very similar (if not identical) functionality gives the impression that your software originates from, is somehow sponsored by, or is otherwise affiliated with our client.
They're asking to cease and desist from using the "Hoarder" name, remove all content of websites/app store/github/etc that uses the name "Hoarder" and the cherry on top, "Immediately transfer the hoarder.app domain to our client" or let it expire without renewing it (in Feb 2027). They're expecting a response by the 24th of Jan, or they're threatening to sue.
For context, I've started developing Hoarder in Feb 2024, and released it here on reddit on March 2024. I've never heard about "Hordr" before today, so I did some research (some screenshots along the way):
They have a trademark for "Hordr" registered in Jan 2023.
They registered the domain
hordr dot appin 2021.Searching google for their domain shows nothing but their website, their parent company and an old apk (from Jun 2024). So they have basically zero external references.
They've had their 2.0 release on the app store on the 3rd of Jan 2025 (2 weeks ago), with "AI powered bookmarking". The release before that is from Feb 2023, and says nothing about the content of the app back then.
- Their apps are so new that they are not even indexed on the play store. Google says they have "1+" downloads.
- I found an apk on one of the apk hosting sites from Jun 2024, which shows some screenshots of how the app looked back then.
Wayback machine for the
hordr dot infoshows a references from 2023 to some app in the app/play store. The app itself (in app/play store) is unfortunately not indexed.So TL;DR, they seem legitimate and not outright trademark trolls. Their earliest app screenshots from June 2024 suggest their current functionality came after Hoarder’s public release. Despite their claims, I find it hard to see how Hoarder could cause confusion among their customers, given they appear to have very almost none. If anything, it feels like they’ve borrowed from Hoarder to increase the similarity before sending the cease and desist.
Hoarder is a side project of mine that I've poured in so much time and energy over the last year. I don't have the mental capacity to deal with this. I'm posting here out of frustration, and I kinda know the most likely outcome. Has anyone dealt with anything similar before?
Pixelfed is most likely to be the next one, and we haven't ruled out anything yet. It depends on what's popular and what there is a need for (ex. someone else isn't already hosting)
We've researched and/or done some prep for Bookwyrm, Loop, Friendica, Sublinks, and Mobilizon. The exact list is uncertain, but the migration will give us lots of room to grow. I'm thinking once we announce one, we can ask what people want next.