US Judge Blocks X Rival From Using Twitter Name, Allows 'Tweet'
U.S. District Judge Colm F. Connolly issued a split ruling granting X protection over 8 trademarks while allowing startup Operation Bluebird to use Tweet.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Court blocks startup Operation Bluebird from using eight Twitter-related trademarks.
- Judge allows the startup to continue using the Tweet mark and the Twitter bird logo for now.
- The startup charges users $20 to reserve handles and join the upcoming social network.
U.S. District Judge Colm F. Connolly has issued a split ruling regarding X's request for a preliminary injunction, which sought to stop a new rival startup named Operation Bluebird from utilizing a series of Twitter trademarks that the startup argued were abandoned by X after its rebrand.
The effort is headed by two lawyers, including founder Michael Peroff based in Illinois, and Stephen Coates, who previously worked as a trademark lawyer at Twitter. Given their legal backgrounds, their assertion of building a new social network appears dubious, with experts noting it is more likely an attempt to acquire valuable Twitter trademarks.
The attempt to claim abandoned legacy trademarks highlights the ongoing monetary and strategic value attached to Twitter's intellectual property history. Even after a complete corporate rebrand to X, legacy brand markers remain contested assets that invite opportunistic legal maneuvers regarding trademark abandonment laws.
Notably, the startup has been charging users $20 to reserve their handle and join the platform, a move that likely helps cover its mounting legal bills.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
In the court's decision, the judge granted X's motion for a preliminary injunction regarding eight Twitter-related marks, but denied the motion when it came to the Tweet mark and the Twitter bird logo.
The legal proceedings are not final, and the case will proceed to determine whether X ultimately still retains rights to any of the legacy Twitter marks given its current widespread transition to the X brand identity.
Source: TechCrunch
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