The city of San Francisco is suing neighboring Oakland over the latter’s plan to change the name of its airport to include “San Francisco,” arguing that the proposed name infringes on its brand and would “cause confusion and chaos.”
San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu filed a federal trademark infringement complaint Thursday, a week after the Oakland Port Board of Commissioners gave preliminary approval to a plan to rename the international airport Oakland Metropolitan Airport to San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport.
The lawsuit alleges that the proposed name would infringe on San Francisco International Airport’s (SFO) brand.
Travelers arrive at San Francisco International Airport (SFO), San Francisco, December 21, 2023.
David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images, FILE
“We had hoped that Oakland would come to its senses, but their refusal to collaborate on an acceptable alternative name leaves us with no choice but to take legal action to protect the SFO brand,” Chiu said in a statement . “This new name will create confusion and chaos for travelers, which will harm the travel industry throughout the region.”
Chiu said at least one airline has already begun using the modified Oakland Airport name, “which indicates that SFO has already suffered economic harm.”
“We want to see the entire Bay Area prosper as a tourism destination and expand our offerings to visitors, but changing the name is not a legal or practical way to do that,” he said.
In a statement to ABC News, the Port of Oakland denied that the proposed name change infringes on the SFO brand.
“We will vigorously defend our right to claim our place in San Francisco Bay,” the Port of Oakland said. “We stand up for Oakland and our East Bay community.”
The Port of Oakland announced in a press release on March 29 that it plans to change the name of the airport from Metropolitan Oakland International Airport to San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport. The city of San Francisco claimed in its lawsuit that the city of Oakland informed the SFO airport director of the proposed name change only 30 minutes before issuing the release.
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The Oakland Board of Port Commissioners voted unanimously to change the airport’s name April 11 in a first reading vote. A second reading is scheduled for May 9, at which point the Port Commission will give final approval and staff will then proceed with the official name change, according to the Port of Oakland.
Travelers walk toward Terminal 2 at Oakland International Airport on April 12, 2024 in Oakland, California.
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“This will enhance inbound travelers’ geographic awareness of the airport by highlighting the airport’s location on the San Francisco Bay,” Port Commission Chairwoman Barbara Leslie said in a statement to the following the vote of April 11. “This name will make clear that OAK is the closest major airport, serving 4.1 million residents, three national laboratories, the nation’s premier public university and California’s wine country.”
The OAK airport code and visual branding will not change, the Port of Oakland said.
The city of San Francisco said it raised concerns with the city of Oakland that the proposed name would cause confusion among consumers, but that Oakland “refused to engage with the city for three weeks following the announcement of its name change plan. prosecution declared.
“The proposed name change for Oakland International Airport will negatively impact the passenger experience, creating confusion and frustration for travelers, particularly those arriving from foreign markets,” said the SFO airport director Ivar Satero in a statement. “For these reasons, we support this legal challenge and urge the Port of Oakland to find a solution that prioritizes all Bay Area airport customers.”
San Francisco owns the U.S. federal registration of the trademark “San Francisco International Airport,” the first date of use of which in commerce was in 1954, according to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit seeks an injunction to immediately stop use of the proposed name and orders declaring that Oakland has infringed the SFO trademark and requiring the city to destroy any materials containing the new name. The lawsuit also seeks unspecified damages.
11.2 million passengers passed through Oakland International Airport in 2023, while San Francisco International Airport handled 50 million passengers last year.
ABC News
