A Virginia startup launched a new Twitter-branded social network Monday, advancing its claim that Elon Musk abandoned the trademark when the former platform became X.
Operation Bluebird’s “Twitter.now” has drawn hundreds of users during its early rollout, according to Ars Technica, an online technology news outlet. The service resembles the former Twitter platform and offers familiar functions, including replies and retweets. Operation Bluebird says the network is independent and has no connection to X Corp.
One of its main additions is Vera, an automated fact-checking system built with Google’s Gemini technology. The news outlet reported that Vera examines each post. The outlet also reported that co-founder Stephen Coates tested the system with deliberately false statements, including a claim that George Washington was the second U.S. president.
Coates mentioned that Operation Bluebird wants to establish a safer, less harmful public forum. The company intends to permit broad expression while reducing the distribution of viral material that is harmful or inaccurate, he said.
Musk faces claim he abandoned the Twitter trademark
The startup launched before the court resolved who may use the Twitter identity. Coates, a co-founder serving as the startup’s general counsel, previously handled legal matters for Twitter. He noted that Operation Bluebird had investors and a working product after waiting several months to proceed.
Twitter 2 has officially launched.
A judge gave the tentative ruling that X "abandoned" its rights to the Twitter trademark when Elon Musk tried to sue the new Twitter, so they've launched their own platform to compete with X. pic.twitter.com/pyvDI8UAu0
— Pubity (@pubity) August 27, 2026
The company’s legal position stems from Musk’s purchase of Twitter in 2022 and its subsequent rebranding as X. Operation Bluebird argues that Musk abandoned the Twitter trademark, as well as rights associated with the “tweet” and the “blue bird” logo, when X stopped using that branding.
X Corp. disputes that interpretation. It sued Operation Bluebird in Delaware federal court in December 2025 and sought preliminary relief that would bar the startup from introducing the service.
Launch raises stakes in X’s unresolved branding fight
At an April hearing, U.S. District Judge Colm Connolly offered a tentative assessment that X appeared to have relinquished intellectual property claims involving the tweet and the bird logo. His comments also raised questions about the Twitter name. Connolly has not issued a written order, and the ownership dispute remains unresolved.
Washington-based trademark lawyer Josh Gerben mentioned that the startup may have a viable legal theory but does not have a certain victory. Launching Twitter.now escalates the dispute and is likely to bring a further response from X, he said.
Twitter.now states that it has no corporate link to X.
See all the latest news from Greece and the world at Greekreporter.com. Contact our newsroom to report an update or send your story, photos and videos. Follow GR on Google News and subscribe here to our daily email!
