Another Twitter alternative could be just around the corner but this time it might be the 'real' thing, as one startup company is seeking out the old trademarks that were discarded when Musk took over the social media platform back in 2022.
It's safe to say that Elon Musk's expensive purchase of Twitter, now rebranded as X, hasn't exactly been a popular move for many, as countless phoenix sites have attempted to recreate what millions believe was lost when the world's richest man took control.
Twitter has undoubtedly changed a lot since Musk stepped into the ownership role, with key moves like the removal of the verified status, the increase in bots, and the emphasis on AI generated content have left a sour taste in the mouths of many.
You might have already ditched X in favor of alternative platforms such as Bluesky or Threads via Instagram, yet another key contender could soon become available, and in a package that'll seem very familiar.
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As reported by Reuters, Virginia-based social media startup company 'Operation Bluebird' has now asked the US Patent and Trademark Office to cancel trademarks for 'Twitter', arguing that Musk's company has now abandoned them following the rebrand in July 2023.
Operation Bluebird then aims, if the appeal is successful, to take this branding on for itself and start its own rival platform. This would use the old Twitter branding, operate under the name 'twitter.new', and even legally be able to call its posts 'tweets', even though everyone still does that on X anyway.
What's more, the petition to the Patent and Trademark Office was filed by none other than Stephen Coates, who used to be Twitter's trademark lawyer, as he now serves as Operation Bluebird's general council alongside running his own law firm.
Coates asserts that this is a "straightforward" matter as Elon Musk's company hasn't used the original Twitter trademark commercially for over two years now, explaining that "X legally abandoned the TWITTER mark."
There are virtually no signs that what's now referred to as X was ever called anything else, with the logo, name, and every mention of Twitter or tweets scrubbed from the site.
Intellectual property lawyer Josh Gerben does believe that Musk could still attempt to block Operation Bluebird's actions in the event of a trademark cancellation, but that would be a rather intriguing turn of events if it were to happen.
Gerben illustrates that the trademark challenge from Operation Bluebird would be "an interesting test as to whether or not X will invest in protecting a brand that they no longer want to use," but Musk certainly has the money to throw at a problem if it resulted in another potential rival being removed.
Replies underneath one post on X revealing the news of Operation Bluebird's intentions are predictably filled by 'blue tick' accounts decrying that they'll never leave and that this new project won't be successful, but you probably would say that when your revenue is on the line.