Imitation isn't the sincerest form of flattery. Not in the case of photo-sharing site TwitPic that has been taken down by Twitter.

TwitPic will shut down September 25 and, ironically, Twitter said it's sad to see that TwitPic's shutting down.

TwitPic is a website that allows users to post pictures to Twitter. It's often used by citizen journalists to upload and distribute pictures as an event is taking place.

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TwitPic is closing its doors because Twitter demanded TwitPic abandon its trademark application or lose access to Twitter's API or application programming interface, the code that lets Twitpic users share photos over Twitter.

Without the API, there wouldn't be a TwitPic.

"Unfortunately we do not have the resources to fend off a large company like Twitter to maintain our mark which we believe whole heartedly is rightfully ours," said TwitPic founder Noah Everett

"Therefore, we have decided to shut down TwitPic."

Everett said he'll be taking down his site because he doesn't want a fight against the much-larger Twitter. He said that Twitter's earnings, reportedly around US$30 billion every quarter, convinced him to back down.

Everett said Twitter's demand was a shock to him because TwitPic has been around since 2008. Twitter was founded two years earlier.

Everett argued their trademark application was approved in 2009, noting it's been approved by United States Patent and Trademark Office.

TwitPic was almost as popular as Twitter in its early days. User demand for TwitPic's services fell when Twitter made embedding photos a part of the main Twitter website and mobile apps.

Twitter has also reduced the number of companies it grants full access to its API. It also said it has to protect its brand and trademarks.

Everett said he wanted to thank those who let their platform be part of their lives. He ended his blog saying he'll miss and cherish the days that Twitpic was up and running.

TagsTwitpic, Trademark, photo sharing, site, platform, will close down