San Francisco is suing Oakland over the proposed name change of its airport.
Oakland plans to modify its airport name to include “San Francisco,” which San Francisco argues infringes on its trademark and would cause confusion and chaos.
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The big picture: San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu filed a federal trademark infringement lawsuit against Oakland on Thursday.
- The lawsuit claims that the proposed name change would infringe on San Francisco International Airport’s trademark.
- San Francisco argues that the proposed name change would damage the travel industry for the entire region, causing confusion for travelers.
- The Port of Oakland voted unanimously in favor of modifying the airport’s name, with a second reading scheduled for May 9.
- The airport code and visual brand would remain the same.
- San Francisco argues that the proposed name change will lead to confusion and frustration for travelers, especially those from foreign markets.
- San Francisco has owned the federal trademark registration for the mark “San Francisco International Airport” since 1954.
- The lawsuit seeks injunctive relief to stop the use of the proposed name, as well as damages and fees.
- Oakland International Airport had 11.2 million passengers in 2023, while San Francisco International Airport had 50 million passengers last year.
What they’re saying: “We had hoped Oakland would come to its senses, but their refusal to collaborate on an acceptable alternative name leaves us no choice but to file a lawsuit to protect SFO’s trademark,” Chiu said in a statement. “This new name will cause confusion and chaos for travelers, which will damage the travel industry for the entire region.”
