Elon Musk’s X Asserts Ownership of “Twitter” Trademark in Updated Terms of Service
Elon Musk’s company, X, has made a significant update to its Terms of Service, reaffirming its claim to the “Twitter” trademark. This move comes in response to a recent application filed by a Virginia-based startup, Operation Bluebird, seeking to trademark the term “Twitter.”
Operation Bluebird alleges that X abandoned the “Twitter” brand when it rebranded its social networking service as “X.” The startup cited a post by Musk on July 23, 2023, where he announced the impending farewell to the Twitter brand. In response, Operation Bluebird filed a petition with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on December 2, challenging X’s ownership of the trademark.
X has now countered this claim with a legal filing of its own, asserting its exclusive ownership of the Twitter and Tweet trademarks, as well as the bluebird logo. The company is determined to protect its intellectual property rights amidst the trademark dispute.
Meanwhile, Operation Bluebird has been gathering potential user sign-ups for its own social network through the website Twitter.new. The startup is led by two lawyers, Michael Peroff and Stephen Coates, who are aiming to acquire the valuable Twitter trademark. Their intentions to launch a rival service to X appear uncertain, given their legal backgrounds.
In response to these developments, X has updated its Terms of Service, effective as of January 15, 2026, to explicitly state that users do not have the right to use the X name or Twitter name, trademarks, logos, or other proprietary rights without express written consent. This revision reflects X’s commitment to safeguarding its brand identity and intellectual property.
“Nothing in the Terms gives you a right to use the X name or Twitter name or any of the X or Twitter trademarks, logos, domain names, other distinctive brand features, and other proprietary rights, and you may not do so without our express written consent.”
In addition to the trademark dispute, X has made minor updates to its Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, including references to EU laws, generated content, and age assurance technology. These changes reflect the company’s ongoing efforts to ensure compliance with regulations and protect user data.
Updated with link to countersuit following initial publication.
