Is Twitter Really Dead? Elon Musk’s X Faces Legal Fight Over Old Brand

Is

Twitter really gone? Elon Musk’s social media platform X says the platform is still very much alive even as a new startup has moved legally to take back the old Twitter brand. This fight has now opened a fresh debate on who actually owns the legacy name that millions still remember.According to reports, a startup called Operation Bluebird, co-founded by Twitter’s former general counsel Stephen Coates recently filed a petition with the US Patents and Trademark Office. The company claims that X has abandoned the Twitter and Tweet trademarks by rebranding and openly calling Twitter 'dead.'Also Read: Elon Musk's Net Worth Soars Past $600 Billion: Here’s A Breakdown Of What’s Powering His Record Fortune

Operation Bluebird argues that the old brand has disappeared from X’s products, services and marketing, which in legal terms counts as abandoning the mark. The startup even plans to launch a new social media platform under the name 'twitter.new'.In a sharp response, X has updated its terms of service, effective January 16, 2025, clearly stating that users cannot use the X or Twitter names, logos, or related trademarks without written permission.The update appears aimed at reinforcing that X still owns the Twitter trademarks, despite the shift to a new identity. The company has reportedly filed a counter petition to protect its rights and defend its claim over the old brand.Even today, twitter.com still redirects to X.com, which X says is proof that the platform is not abandoned—just rebranded.Operation Bluebird has already seen big interest online, with over 1.45 lakh users reportedly trying to reserve a username on its proposed new platform. This shows that many people still feel a strong attachment to the Twitter brand.Coates says the legal fight is simple -- once X declared Twitter 'dead' and invested heavily in a new identity, it gave up rights to the old name. 'They said goodbye. We say hello,' he added.