The two reports side by side
| Impersonation report | Intellectual property report | |
|---|---|---|
| Protects | A person or a business identity | A registered trade mark |
| Who files | The person being impersonated, or an authorised representative | The mark owner, or someone authorised to act for them |
| Core proof | That the profile pretends to be you, and that you are who you say | The mark, its registration details and how the profile misuses it |
| What Instagram looks at | Whether people are likely to think the profile is you | Whether the use of the mark breaks its intellectual property rules |
| Does not cover | A profile that simply shares your name | A handle that is a common word used in its ordinary sense |
Choose impersonation when the profile poses as you
The impersonation route fits when the account copies your name, photos or details so that people could think it is you or your business. The form can ask for proof of identity. If the profile just happens to use the same name and does not present itself as you, this route does not fit, however close the spelling is.
Choose the trademark route when the handle uses your mark
The intellectual property route fits when you own a registered mark and the profile uses it in a way that suggests a link with your brand or sells under it. Have the registration number, the office that issued it and the owner's name exactly as on the record. The trademark guide lists what else to have ready.
When neither fits
A handle held by a stranger with the same first name, or by a quiet account that never mentioned you or your brand, does not fit either report. In that situation the options are a previous-username request if the name was once yours, waiting for a release, or a close variation. See the best way to get a taken handle.
TikTok and Snapchat follow the same split
TikTok and Snapchat also separate impersonation from trademark reports. Snapchat adds that a mark in a username is not a violation by itself; the owner has to show commercial use that suggests an affiliation. The TikTok and Snapchat pages cover their forms.
Official sources
- Instagram: report an impersonation account
- Instagram: report an intellectual property infringement
- Instagram Community Standards
Platforms change their help pages and forms often. Follow the wording on your own screen and the current Help Center. Atclaim is an independent service and is not affiliated with Meta or any platform named on this site.