Snapchat changes logo amid lawsuit challenging founding of startup

Snapchat, the popular social network startup that lets users send each other photos that quickly disappear, has given its logo a facelift.

Since launching in 2011, the Los Angeles-based company has been known for its logo of a ghost making a silly face by sticking its tongue out. But earlier this week, Snapchat rolled out an app update for its Apple users with a logo that shows a face-less ghost.

The startup on Thursday told users that the change was not an accident.

PHOTOS: Top smartphones of 2013

“Many of you have noticed that in our latest iOS update, v5.0 Banquo, our mascot no longer has a facial expression,” the blog post said. “This isn’t because we forgot the face - it’s because you are the face of Snapchat.”

“Letting go of the silly grin means that our mascot gets to have all sorts of fun expressions and personalities - reflective of the diverse experiences shared by the members of our community,” the blog also says.

The logo change comes amid a legal challenge as to who exactly founded the company.

A South Carolina man who also studied at Stanford at the same time as Snapchat’s founders has sued Snapchat, claiming he was one of the co-founders. In the lawsuit, Frank Reginald Brown IV says he helped create Snapchat but was forced out of the company by Bobby Murphy and Evan Spiegel, the app’s listed co-founders. Among his contributions to the company, Brown listed designing the Snapchat Ghostface Chillah logo.

ALSO:

Meet Dave Muffly, the Apple Campus 2 arborist

Facebook aims to drive revenues by making it easier to advertise

Cupertino releases environmental review of proposed Apple campus