Operation Bluebird Seeks to Revive Twitter Brand, Citing Abandoned Trademark

A new social media startup called Operation Bluebird is attempting to reclaim the Twitter name, arguing that Elon Musk's X Corporation abandoned the trademark. The company, led by former Twitter general counsel Stephen Coates, has petitioned to cancel the existing registrations. A federal judge has tentatively suggested that X Corp may have forfeited some intellectual property rights related to the platform.

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The legal dispute hinges on the definition of trademark abandonment under US law, where non-use for three consecutive years serves as prima facie evidence but is not conclusive. The owner's intent to resume use is the deciding factor, and Musk's highly publicized rebrand to X, including the removal of the blue bird, suggests a clear intent to retire the old identity. However, X Corp's renewal registration filed in 2023 and approved in 2024 complicates the narrative, as it demonstrates an attempt