A federal court has issued an initial ruling in a trademark dispute that forces a new social media platform to abandon the name Twitter.now and rebrand as Tweet.app. The platform, launched last week by a startup called Operation Bluebird, had adopted the Twitter.now name while a judge was still considering a request for a preliminary injunction. That request came from X Corp., which alleged trademark infringement over the use of the "Twitter" name.
US District Judge Colm Connolly ruled that using the "Twitter" name would likely cause consumer confusion and infringe on existing trademarks, meaning Operation Bluebird cannot keep the original name. However, the court also found that X Corp. likely abandoned the word "tweet" and its bird logo, clearing those elements for use without trademark infringement claims. On its FAQ page, Tweet.app states that a federal court declined to block its use of the Tweet mark and the bird logo, based on a finding that the company is likely to prove X Corp. abandoned both.
The rebranded platform is now live at Tweet.app, but it is still only accepting waitlist applicants for its upcoming social media service. According to TechCrunch, more than 172,000 people have already signed up and requested a handle, which costs $20 to reserve. Tweet.app also offers a higher-priced tier called Fighter for $40, which appears to grant founder-level perks, such as a founder number and badge, plus an exclusive slingshot badge for users the site describes as people who stand up rather than just show up.
The ruling addresses only the preliminary injunction stage of the case, not the full trademark infringement lawsuit. Tweet.app has said that the underlying case is still ongoing and is expected to go to trial. The decision creates a split outcome for both parties: X Corp. retains exclusive rights to the "Twitter" name in this context, but loses the argument over "tweet" and the bird logo, at least for now. For US consumers, the practical effect is that the new platform will operate under the name Tweet.app while the legal fight continues.
More software news from TechManNews.
