Operation Bluebird has launched Twitter.now while arguing that X Corp. abandoned key Twitter trademarks after Elon Musk rebranded the platform.
The Twitter name has returned to the social media landscape, but not under Elon Musk’s X. Virginia-based startup Operation Bluebird has launched Twitter.now, a new social platform built around the company’s claim that X Corp. abandoned key rights associated with the former Twitter brand.
Twitter.now went live this week after months of legal uncertainty. Stephen Coates, a co-founder and general counsel of Operation Bluebird, said the startup decided to proceed with the launch rather than wait indefinitely for a final court ruling.
The company was formed around the argument that Musk’s decision to rebrand Twitter as X left important Twitter trademarks unused. Operation Bluebird has sought to challenge X Corp.’s rights to trademarks including TWITTER and TWEET.
The dispute has already reached federal court. X Corp. sued Operation Bluebird in December 2025, accusing the startup of infringing its trademark rights. X has argued that the Twitter brand remains protected and that its continued recognition and use prevent the marks from being considered abandoned.
The case remains unresolved. A Delaware federal judge considered the competing arguments in April 2026, but no final written ruling has been issued. The dispute is also connected to proceedings before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, which has suspended a related cancellation proceeding pending the federal case.
Despite the uncertainty, Twitter.now is now operating as an independent service. Its terms state that the platform is not affiliated with X Corp. or the X social media service.
The platform is designed to resemble the traditional Twitter experience, with features including posts, replies and retweets. It also promotes a trust-focused approach, including an automated fact-checking system called Vera that uses Google’s Gemini technology to analyze posts in real time.
Coates has described the platform’s philosophy as “freedom of speech” without necessarily providing “freedom of reach,” meaning users can express their views while the platform can limit the amplification of harmful or inaccurate material.
Twitter.now remains in its early stages, with the platform currently attracting only hundreds of users, according to Ars Technica. The company is also offering paid early-access memberships as it builds the service.
The launch could further intensify the legal battle between the two companies. Trademark attorney Josh Gerben told Ars that Operation Bluebird has a potentially workable argument over abandonment but cautioned that the case is far from certain.
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