X Wins Twitter Trademark Injunction, but Tweet.app Keeps ‘Tweet’ and Bird Logo
A Delaware judge blocked Operation Bluebird from using Twitter.now but allowed Tweet.app to use “tweet” and the bird logo while X’s trademark case proceeds.
Summary
As of September 4, 2026, U.S. District Court Judge Colm F. Connolly in Delaware had issued a split preliminary ruling in Elon Musk’s X trademark case. Connolly granted X an injunction covering eight Twitter-related marks, including the core Twitter name, barring Virginia-based Operation Bluebird from using Twitter.now. He denied protection for the Tweet mark and Twitter bird logo, finding Operation Bluebird likely to prove X Corp. ended genuine use and does not intend to resume it. The ruling is not final.
Operation Bluebird, led by Illinois-based founder and lawyer Michael Peroff and president Stephen Coates, a former Twitter trademark lawyer, rebranded as Tweet.app and opened public early testing. The company says it aims to recover marks discarded when Twitter became X, while Coates argues the public’s continued use of “tweet” supports its claim. More than 172,000 people requested handles before launch, and users pay $20 to reserve one and join. The case will determine whether X retains rights to any disputed Twitter marks despite using X in most places.
Positives
- More than 172,000 people requested Tweet.app handles before its public launch.
- Tweet.app has opened early testing after Operation Bluebird’s forced rebrand from Twitter.now.
- Judge Colm F. Connolly denied X preliminary protection for the Tweet mark and Twitter bird logo.
- Operation Bluebird may continue using the Tweet name while the trademark litigation proceeds.
Risks & concerns
- Eight Twitter-related marks received preliminary protection, including the core name that blocked Twitter.now.
- Operation Bluebird must charge users $20 to reserve a handle and join Tweet.app.
- The preliminary ruling is not final, leaving ownership of the Tweet mark and bird logo unresolved.
- X could permanently lose rights to disputed marks if Operation Bluebird proves abandonment at trial.