X updates its terms, files countersuit to lay claim to the ‘Twitter’ trademark after newcomer’s challenge

In a bold move, Elon Musk's platform X has revised its Terms of Service to reaffirm its ownership of the 'Twitter' trademark. This update comes in response to a recent application filed by Operation Bluebird, a startup based in Virginia, which seeks to trademark the 'Twitter' name. The startup argues that by rebranding its social media service to 'X,' the company has effectively abandoned the Twitter brand. The controversy intensified when Operation Bluebird referenced a tweet by Musk from July 23, 2023, where he indicated that the platform would soon say farewell to the Twitter name. In defense of its trademark rights, X has initiated a countersuit against the startup, asserting its continued ownership of the Twitter and Tweet trademarks, alongside the iconic bluebird logo. Operation Bluebird, led by attorneys Michael Peroff and Stephen Coates, has been actively gathering user sign-ups for their own social network through a website called Twitter.new. Observers are skeptical about their intentions, with many speculating that their primary goal is to acquire the valuable trademark rather than genuinely competing with X. To preemptively address the situation, X's updated Terms of Service, which will take effect on January 15, 2026, explicitly state that no rights to use the X or Twitter names, logos, or trademarks are granted without prior written consent. Previously, the terms only referred to X, lacking any mention of Twitter. Additionally, the revised terms include minor updates related to compliance with EU laws and age assurance technology in the Privacy Policy. As the legal battle unfolds, X remains steadfast in protecting its brand identity against emerging competitors.