Startup tries to reclaim ‘Twitter’ trademarks from Musk’s X

Startup seeks to cancel X’s ‘Twitter’ and ‘Tweet’ trademarks after Elon Musk’s platform rebranded to X, setting up a closely watched test of what happens to a famous brand that’s been shelved.

What Happened

A Virginia-based company called Operation Bluebird has asked the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to cancel multiple Twitter-related registrations held by X Corp., arguing the marks have been abandoned since Twitter’s 2023 rebrand to X. The group says it wants to use the names for a rival service dubbed “twitter.new.” The petition was filed by Stephen Jadie Coates, a former Twitter trademark lawyer who now serves as Operation Bluebird’s general counsel. Reuters first reported the move, noting X renewed some Twitter registrations in 2023 even as the bird branding and site name were removed across the service.

Inside The Filing

USPTO records show the case was instituted as a Trademark Trial and Appeal Board cancellation proceeding against several registrations, including TWITTER and TWEET, with X Corp. listed as the defendant. Filed on December 2, 2025, the matter is docketed as Cancellation No. 92090266. The board’s notice set an answer deadline for X Corp.; its response is due by February 1, 2026. Operation Bluebird’s argument hinges on nonuse: the company says X eradicated the Twitter brand, redirected traffic to x.com and publicly signaled it would “bid adieu” to the Twitter name and bird imagery.

Why It Matters

Abandonment claims are uncommon against household-name marks, and this one could clarify how aggressively a company must police or maintain a brand it has retired. Legal practitioners say X could face hurdles if nonuse is proven, though the company might still fight competitors’ use of the old name. The outcome will be closely watched by brand owners weighing whether to sunset or spin off legacy identities without ceding them to challengers.

What’s Next

The TTAB proceeding will unfold over months, if not years, with potential appeals or parallel court fights. For now, Operation Bluebird is seeking permission to proceed with its own network under the historic name, while X must decide how hard to defend a brand it publicly walked away from. Expect procedural skirmishes first, followed by fact discovery into how—and whether—X still uses any vestiges of Twitter in commerce.

Sources

• US startup seeks to reclaim Twitter trademarks 'abandoned' by Musk’s X — Reuters (December 8, 2025)
• TTABVUE: Operation Bluebird, Inc. v. X Corp., Cancellation No. 92090266 — United States Patent and Trademark Office (December 3, 2025)
• US startup seeks to reclaim Twitter trademarks 'abandoned' by Musk’s X — Reuters via Google News (December 8, 2025)