【Series Archives】

There's been a lot of Snapchat-copying going on Series Archivesin the tech world lately, with Facebook being one of the main culprits.

But the social media giant isn't alone. Another tech juggernaut appears to be cribbing from the ephemeral messaging app, as well. On Monday, Apple was granted a patent for an "avatar editing environment" that looks a lotlike Bitmoji, the popular app from Snapchat-owned Bitstrips.

SEE ALSO: How Facebook is trying to dominate mobile without owning your smartphone

The patent document, which was first picked up by Mic, says this theoretical product would allow users to create custom avatars for "online games and other applications." Starting with a blank face, users can add, rescale and resize features like eyes, a nose and a mouth. They can also modify face shapes and skin color and will be able to choose whether to create the avatar automatically or manually.

You can see from the screenshots below how alike the patent is to Bitmoji:

Mashable Light Speed Want more out-of-this world tech, space and science stories? Sign up for Mashable's weekly Light Speed newsletter. By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Thanks for signing up!

Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

As you can see, the resemblance is pretty real. And if you're thinking what we're thinking, yes, it is a little ridiculous that in this emoji-ridden day and age, avatar editing environments can still be patented. Bitmoji, after all, isn't an entirely new concept. Avatar creations have been around for ages. Remember Yahoo Avatar?

To be fair, Apple filed this patent in 2011, long before Snapchat acquired Bitstrips. But it's hard not to scream copycat when much of the functionality seems so similar to Bitmoji.

Apple patents don't always come to fruition though, so this could very well be another patent stashed away at the bottom of some storage space at Apple HQ.

And if it does? We can probably count on Miranda Kerr to say something about it.

---

Featured Video For You

---

Signs you're reading too much into instant messages with emoji

---

Topics Apple Snapchat

• Shopping
• Science
• Life
• Games
• Digital Culture
• Deals
• Tech
• Social Good

• Seven Steam games whose reviews have changed a lot
• The technology that may finally make ‘clean’ cookstoves a reality
• Here are the best ways to support Hillary online without getting trashed
• Sharing economy for the rich now includes horses
• Sunday's Fat Bear Week match pits two fat favorites against each other
• Xiaomi launches its Magic Mouse 2
• Lady Gaga channels the suffragette movement in election
• 'Saturday Night Live' shows Donald Trump getting intimate with KKK, FBI and Putin
• Keeping Hope Alive
• 'Westworld' may have finally killed someone off in episode 6

• Singapore tests out petrol
• The best Ryan Reynolds memes
• Apple Watch Series 4 teardown reveals big changes on the inside
• Creating the playground of 'Marvel's Spider
• Photograph of a hungry corgi gets the Reddit Photoshop battle treatment.
• Third Eye Blind releases new song about police brutality
• Why experts are freaking out over the new way Google Chrome sign
• RIP, father of the Force: Remembering Star Wars producer Gary Kurtz
• Netflix's 'Maniac': What is it really about?
• Dad behind the USA Freedom Kids is now suing Donald Trump

• 'Black Mirror' Season 7: 'Hotel Reverie,' explained
• Take your lobes to the Jurassic era with these plastic dinosaur earrings
• Don't believe your eyes, these intricate dishes are cookies
• After Tinder murder trial, acquitted man paid for cringe
• The cicadas aren't invading the U.S.
• Tinder launches Double Date feature to swipe with your BFF
• The actual threat Russia poses on Election Day
• 'Silicon Valley' star shuts down BlizzCon haters in one Instagram
• 44 GPU Fortnite Benchmark: The Best Graphics Cards for Playing Battle Royale
• A 'puppuccino' changed this adorable pup's life

• Shop Owala's Memorial Day Sale for 30% off tumblers
• The technology that may finally make ‘clean’ cookstoves a reality
• Twitter went down and people put on their tin foil hats
• Facebook sued over ads based on racial preference
• NYT Strands hints, answers for April 23
• This letter to Americans has an important message ahead of elections
• Kid Cudi performed his first post
• Trump predicts 'Brexit plus plus plus'
• Shop the Shark FlexStyle for 20% off at Amazon
• Backpacker 'body slams' a crocodile after trying to get a selfie with it