X Corp Takes Legal Action Against Startup Over ‘Twitter’ Brand Rights

By: The Trek News Desk

Elon Musk-owned social media company X Corp has filed a lawsuit against a startup that attempted to cancel the company’s long-standing Twitter trademarks to relaunch the name as a separate social media platform.

In a complaint submitted to a federal court in Delaware, X Corp argued that the Twitter brand remains active, valuable, and legally protected, despite the platform’s rebranding to X. The company stated that no third party has the right to claim the Twitter name, adding that such an attempt violates trademark laws and could mislead users.

The lawsuit targets Virginia-based startup Operation Bluebird, which recently approached the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) seeking cancellation of X’s Twitter trademarks. The startup claims that X has abandoned the brand and plans to revive it through a new platform proposed under the name “twitter.new.”

Responding to the legal action, Operation Bluebird founder Michael Peroff said the company’s petition is grounded in established trademark principles. He expressed confidence in their legal position and stated that the startup is prepared to pursue the matter through all available legal channels.

Elon Musk acquired Twitter in 2022 for approximately $44 billion and officially rebranded the platform as X. In 2023, Musk publicly suggested that the company would gradually move away from the Twitter name and its iconic bird logo, a move that Operation Bluebird now cites as evidence of trademark abandonment.

However, X Corp has firmly rejected that claim in court. The company emphasized that millions of users still access the platform through twitter.com, and the brand continues to be widely referred to as Twitter by users, advertisers, and businesses worldwide. X also noted that it actively maintains and enforces its trademark rights.

“Twitter is one of the most recognizable brands globally and remains the property of X Corp,” the company stated in its filing. “A corporate rebrand does not amount to the surrender of trademark ownership.”

Through the lawsuit, X Corp is seeking to block Operation Bluebird from using the Twitter name and is also asking the court for financial damages related to potential consumer confusion. The exact amount of compensation has not been disclosed.

As of now, representatives and legal counsel for X Corp have not issued any further public statements regarding the case.

Source: News Agencies

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