Twitter’s Troublesome Transition: Lessons in Intellectual Property

In the ever-evolving world of technology and branding, there's always something happening that's worth our attention. This time, it's Twitter's dramatic departure from its well-known blue bird logo to a simple "X". What's more, it has also altered its site address to "X.com", effectively retiring the well-established terms such as "tweets" and "retweets".

However, this fresh take on branding seems to have hit a bump already. The "X" logo has been reported to be in use by EDM artist Kxlider since December 2021, as per one of their Instagram posts. Although Kxlider may not be as popular in the social media world with just 31 followers, at the very least, they might indeed have a claim to the logo's originality.

Interestingly enough, the "X" logo in question originates from the "Special Alphabets 4" of the Monotype's Special Alphabets font family. This may add complexity to any intellectual property claim as it might be challenging to secure a copyright for a common alphabet letter. Regardless, Kxlider could consider legal assistance to assert any rights they might have.

This unexpected shift by Twitter (or now, X.com) has been met with backlash from the platform's user base. The flurry of responses to the official tweets about the rebranding are majorly demands to revert to the previous bird logo. Many users argue that the new "X" logo is too generic and therefore not searchable.

Some users also expressed dismay at the loss of the international recognition attached to the term "Twitter" and its related terminologies, which they believe is something other corporations would aspire to achieve.

The final impact of this rebranding is yet to be seen. Although Musk's previous decisions regarding Twitter have been perceived as harmful, leading to an accelerated decline in users and significant loss in market value, only time will tell whether this bold rebranding move will turn the tides in his favor or further sink the platform.

At Ed White Law, we see this as a fascinating case study that underscores the importance of conducting thorough due diligence and understanding the complexities involved in intellectual property rights, particularly when it comes to high-stakes rebranding decisions. Stay tuned as we continue to track this evolving story.