This browser is not actively supported anymore. For the best passle experience, we strongly recommend you upgrade your browser.

Perspectives

| less than a minute read

Another Chapter in the Bay Bridge Series? San Francisco Sues Oakland Over Airport Name

Even with the A's leaving the Bay Area, we're getting an extra SF-Oakland matchup. This trademark infringement case will have some interesting issues to be decided (if it gets that far). Geographically descriptive terms are hard to protect, but you could see potential confusion due to longtime exclusive use and the identification with the city/bay. One to watch!

"Travelers will very likely be confused and book tickets to the unintended airport, thinking that the 'San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport' is SFO and arrive in the wrong place" if Oakland goes through with the plan, the lawsuit said.

Tags

trademark, trademark infringement, intellectual property