New "Twitter" startup rebrands to Tweet.app after mixed court ruling
A US federal court blocked a startup from using the name "Twitter" but allowed it to use the word "tweet" and the bird logo, prompting a rebrand to Tweet.app.
A startup called Operation Bluebird launched a new social media platform last week under the name Twitter.now, before a judge had ruled on a request for a preliminary injunction over alleged trademark infringement. This week, US District Judge Colm Connolly issued an initial ruling that led the platform to rebrand as Tweet.app.
According to the ruling, using the name "Twitter" would likely confuse consumers and infringe on existing trademarks, so Operation Bluebird cannot use that name. However, the court also found that X likely abandoned the word "tweet" and its bird logo, meaning both are available for use without infringement concerns.
Company's response
On its FAQ page, Tweet.app stated that a federal court declined to block its use of the Tweet name and bird logo, finding the company is likely to prove X Corp. abandoned both marks.
The Tweet.app website is now live, though it is currently only accepting waitlist sign-ups for its planned platform. TechCrunch reports that more than 172,000 people have already signed up and reserved a handle, a process that costs $20. The site also offers a $40 "Fighter" tier, which includes founder-level perks such as a founder number, badge, and an exclusive slingshot badge.
While the preliminary injunction question has now been decided, the underlying trademark infringement case remains ongoing and is expected to proceed to trial, according to Tweet.app.
