Elon Musk is someone who always ends up in the news, no matter what he does—and once again, he’s back in the spotlight because of Twitter Trademarks Abandoned. Remember when everyone was talking about Musk buying Twitter and turning it into X? Now, the platform is making headlines again, but for a very different reason. A U.S. startup called Operation Bluebird has asked the U.S. trademark office to cancel the well-known “Twitter” and “tweet” trademarks, saying Musk’s company has stopped using them. Want to know why this is happening and why it’s become such a big story? Keep reading to understand the case in simple terms and explore more of the latest IP news from India and around the world.
Why is a US startup trying to reclaim the Twitter and Tweet trademarks
Before we get into what happened in court or how this Twitter Trademarks Abandoned case might affect both companies, it’s important to understand how the whole issue even began. It all goes back to Elon Musk’s takeover of Twitter in 2022 and his bold move in 2023 to completely rebrand the platform as X. He changed the famous bluebird logo, replaced it with the word “tweet,” and shifted the site from twitter.com to x.com. After that, the original Twitter identity basically vanished from public use. But this act triggered the whole trademark legal dispute. This is what opened the door for a U.S. company with the name Operation Bluebird, and they argued that the trademark rights related to Twitter, where they want to use the word Twitter for their further business operations and expansion.
On December 2, 2025, the startup filed a petition with the U.S. trademark office. Their argument relies on U.S. trademark law, which says a trademark can be lost if the owner stops using it and doesn’t plan to use it again. But things aren’t that straightforward, because X Corp can still argue that the name “Twitter” is globally famous and has huge leftover brand value, which shouldn’t just be handed to someone else. That’s what makes this case such a big deal—not just for Musk, but for how companies protect old brand names after rebranding.
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How does the Twitter Trademarks Abandoned affect both companies, and what happened in the court filing
Now let’s talk about why this case actually matters and how it could affect both companies. Everything started when Operation Bluebird filed a petition on December 2, 2025, asking the U.S. trademark office to cancel the trademark rights of the “Twitter” and “tweet”. Their main argument is that X Corp has abandoned these marks after completely rebranding Twitter into X — the bluebird logo is gone, the word “tweet” has disappeared, and even the twitter.com existence is gone because of the new domain x.com. Since the original Twitter identity has basically vanished from public use, Bluebird claims the trademarks should be cancelled so they can use the “Twitter” name for their own platform.
If Operation Bluebird win, X Corp could lose rights to one of the most iconic brands in tech history and would have to rely on goodwill or other legal arguments to stop others from using the name. This could weaken X’s hold on its old identity and set a big precedent for how companies protect trademarks after a major rebrand. On the other hand, Operation Bluebird could instantly gain worldwide recognition if it revives the Twitter name, but it also risks getting dragged into legal battles if X argues the brand is still too famous to be taken over.
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Conclusion
The Twitter Trademarks Abandoned is much bigger than just a fight over a name. It raises serious questions about what happens to famous trademarks when a company completely rebrands and walks away from its old identity. Whether X Corp keeps control of the “Twitter” brand or Operation Bluebird manages to revive it, the outcome will shape how companies handle rebranding and trademark protection in the future. One thing is clear — the Twitter name isn’t done making headlines yet.