X Countersues to Reclaim ‘Twitter’ Trademark
▼ Summary
– Elon Musk’s X is updating its Terms of Service to explicitly assert its continued ownership of the “Twitter” trademark.
– This update is a response to a startup, Operation Bluebird, which filed to trademark “Twitter,” claiming X abandoned the brand by renaming its service.
– X has filed a countersuit, stating it exclusively owns the Twitter and Tweet trademarks and the bluebird logo.
– Operation Bluebird, led by lawyers including a former Twitter trademark attorney, is collecting sign-ups for a potential rival service, but its true aim may be to acquire the valuable trademark.
– The revised Terms, effective January 2026, now forbid unauthorized use of both X and Twitter brand features, whereas previously they only mentioned X.
The legal landscape surrounding the iconic “Twitter” name has intensified as X, the company formerly known as Twitter, has taken formal steps to reinforce its ownership of the trademark. This action comes in direct response to a petition filed by a Virginia startup, Operation Bluebird, which argues that X abandoned the “Twitter” brand when it rebranded the social media platform. By updating its Terms of Service to explicitly claim rights to the “Twitter” name and filing a countersuit, X is making a clear legal stand to protect its valuable intellectual property.
The dispute centers on a fundamental question of trademark law: abandonment. Operation Bluebird’s filing with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office points to public statements, including a July 2023 post from owner Elon Musk about bidding “adieu to the twitter brand,” as evidence that X intentionally discontinued use of the mark. The startup has since begun collecting user interest for a potential new social network at a website called Twitter.new.
However, X is vigorously contesting this interpretation. In its legal countersuit, the company asserts it continues to exclusively own the Twitter and Tweet trademarks along with the familiar bluebird logo. To bolster its position, X has proactively revised its global Terms of Service. The updated terms, set to take effect in 2026, now explicitly state that users have no right to use the “X name or Twitter name” or any associated trademarks without express written consent. This marks a significant change, as previous versions of the terms only referenced the “X” brand in this section.
The founders of Operation Bluebird add an intriguing layer to the case. The effort is led by two lawyers, including one who previously worked as a trademark lawyer at Twitter itself. This background has led to speculation that their primary goal may not be launching a genuine rival service, but rather acquiring the valuable “Twitter” trademark through legal means, capitalizing on a perceived abandonment.
Beyond the high-profile trademark battle, X’s updated terms include other modifications, such as new mentions related to compliance with European Union regulations and policies concerning AI-generated content. The company’s Privacy Policy also received minor updates referencing age assurance technologies. While these are standard procedural updates, the strategic inclusion of the “Twitter” name in the core terms underscores the company’s determination to defend what it views as a critical corporate asset, setting the stage for a potentially protracted legal fight over a name deeply embedded in digital culture.
(Source: TechCrunch)
