Calm and Canva: A Logo Fumble, Not A Logo Crisis

What’s it like when two popular apps accidentally confuse users – and one of them makes a joke out of it? The story of Calm and Canva shows us that logo similarity doesn’t always have to be a problem. But when can it become one?

When Calm, the mental health app, dropped this gem on social media, users couldn’t help but laugh—and relate. Canva, the beloved graphic design tool, had gone down, leaving frazzled users searching for alternatives. Enter Calm’s witty suggestion to “accidentally” open their app instead, leaning into the all-too-familiar confusion caused by their eerily similar blue icons.

But beyond the laughs, this mix-up raises a key legal question: When does looking alike actually become a problem?

Trademark law is like a referee in the branding game. It steps in when two businesses with similar logos risk confusing consumers. But there’s a big catch: it only matters if the businesses are competitors.

Calm helps you relax with meditation and breathing exercises, while Canva helps you stress out over your next Instagram post design. Their industries couldn’t be more different, which means their logo similarity isn’t a legal foul.

If anything, this mix-up has become a charming part of their stories—proof that not every branding overlap has to spark a courtroom showdown.

Here’s when you should start sweating over a similar logo:

1. Your customers are getting confused. Imagine ordering a pizza and getting a yoga mat instead. (Not very calming.)
2. Your brand reputation is at risk. If a competitor with a similar logo gets bad reviews, those complaints could stick to you.
3. Someone’s riding your coattails. If a brand looks too much like yours to gain unfair attention, that’s trademark infringement territory.

These are the situations where lawyers (like us!) step in to sort things out.

Not every logo clash is a disaster. Calm and Canva show us that if you’re not in direct competition and the mix-up isn’t causing real harm, there’s no need to panic. Sometimes, a little overlap can even lead to unexpected marketing magic—like a viral social media moment.

If you’re wondering whether your logo’s resemblance to another is a problem, ask yourself:

• Are you in the same market?
• Could customers genuinely confuse you?
• Is the similarity damaging your business?

If the answer is no, you can probably relax (and maybe even breathe through it on Calm).

Logo design is more than just looking good—it’s about standing out for the right reasons. If you’re unsure whether your branding might run into trouble, reach out to us. We’ll help you figure out if your design is ready to shine—or if it needs a little legal polish.