X (formerly Twitter) has moved to reinforce its control over both the “X” and “Twitter” trademarks, updating its Terms of Service effective January 15, 2026 to explicitly prohibit unauthorized use of the names, the iconic blue bird logo, and related branding.

The update follows a legal challenge from a Virginia-based startup seeking to revive the Twitter name.

The Challenge: Operation Bluebird

• On December 2, 2025, Operation Bluebird, led by former Twitter trademark counsel Stephen Coates, petitioned the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to cancel X’s registrations for “Twitter” and “Tweet.”
• Bluebird argues the marks were abandoned after Elon Musk’s 2023 rebrand to X, citing Musk’s post bidding “adieu to the Twitter brand and… all the birds.”
• The startup plans to launch a rival platform at twitter.new, using the old name, color scheme, and bird imagery.

X’s Response

• On December 16, 2025, X countersued in Delaware federal court, claiming infringement.
• The company insists “Twitter never left,” pointing to:
  • Continued use of twitter.com, accessed by millions.
  • Persistent public references to “tweets.”
  • Active enforcement of the marks.
• X’s filing argues: “A rebrand is not an abandonment of trademark rights.”

Legal Context

Trademark experts describe the dispute as a rare test of rebrand risks. To prove abandonment, challengers must show non-use with intent to abandon, a high bar. X’s aggressive defense highlights the enduring commercial value of the Twitter name, even after the pivot to X.

Other Policy Updates

Alongside the trademark clarification, X’s Terms of Service update includes:

• EU/UK compliance measures for removing “harmful” content.
• Minor privacy tweaks related to age verification technology.