A federal judge has ordered San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport (OAK) to stop using ”San Francisco” in its new name amid a trademark infringement lawsuit with the city and county of San Francisco.
The court order stated that “San Francisco is likely to prevail on its claim that the new name of the Oakland airport uses San Francisco’s Mark in a way that falsely implies affiliation, connection, and association.”
The judge’s motion for a preliminary injunction prevents Port of Oakland officials from using, displaying, or registering the name or trademark “San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport” in connection with any products or services, including advertising, marketing, or other promotion, distribution or sales, according to the court order.
The preliminary injunction is a temporary ruling that prevents the Port of Oakland from using the new name until the judge can issue a final ruling.
In April, the City of San Francisco filed a lawsuit against the Port of Oakland after Oakland’s Board of Port Commissioners unanimously voted in favor of changing the airport’s name. The trademark infringement lawsuit was submitted to protect SFO’s trademark and prevent widespread traveler confusion.
Name Change
In May, Oakland Airport changed its name from “Metropolitan Oakland International Airport” to include “San Francisco Bay” despite the lawsuit by San Francisco.Richardson added that the name change “accurately describes OAK’s geographic location on the Bay and presents the airport as an additional choice for travel into the San Francisco Bay Area.”