Snap Inc. has lost a bid to take control of the geofilters.com domain name from a small mobile app developer that Snap accused of cybersquatting.

A World Intellectual Property Association arbitration panel ruled that “geofilters” is a descriptive term for software that adds a filter or graphic to a photo based on location. Therefore, Paul and Tracy Grand of Santa Monica can keep the domain, which they say they've reserved for their own forthcoming geofiltering app.

“This is what we've said all along,” said one of the Grands' attorney, David Miclean of San Mateo's Miclean Gleason. “This is a term that's been used in the industry a long time to describe a tool. It's not a word Snap invented.”