Home / Business and Economy / Startup Fights X Corp for Twitter Brand
Startup Fights X Corp for Twitter Brand
11 Dec
Summary
- Startup Operation Bluebird seeks to cancel X Corp's Twitter trademarks.
- Founder claims X has legally abandoned brand rights with no intent to resume.
- Legal experts debate residual goodwill and potential lengthy trademark battle.
A startup named Operation Bluebird is challenging X Corp.'s claim to the "Twitter" and "Tweet" trademarks. The company filed a petition with the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to cancel X Corp.'s ownership, asserting that the marks have been legally abandoned. This move is spearheaded by Michael Peroff and Stephen Coates, both trademark attorneys, with Coates having previously worked at Twitter.
Operation Bluebird alleges that X Corp. has abandoned its rights to the Twitter brand with no intention of resuming its use, even suggesting X Corp. has committed fraud on the USPTO. This petition comes after Elon Musk rebranded Twitter to X, replacing the logo and redirecting Twitter.com to X.com. Musk's previous statements about bidding farewell to the Twitter brand are cited as evidence.
Legal experts express mixed views on Operation Bluebird's chances. While some acknowledge a strong argument for abandonment, the concept of "residual goodwill"—where consumers still associate the old brand with the current company—could complicate matters. A lengthy legal battle is anticipated, potentially lasting several years, as X Corp. must respond by February.
