A federal judge ordered the Port of Oakland to stop using Oakland International Airport on the San Francisco Bay Area as its new airport name The case of the city of San Francisco is underway
San Francisco sue in April for what it claims is trademark infringement and asked a federal judge for a preliminary injunction, arguing that the airport’s new name confuses people who want to fly into San Francisco International Airport and violates copyright.
U.S. District Judge Thomas Hixson on Tuesday issued an order that supports the copyright infringement argument, saying San Francisco spent millions developing its brand. The judge also ordered the Oakland airport to remove signs bearing the new name.
Port of Oakland spokesman Robert Bernardo said officials were reviewing the ruling and considering their options, including an appeal.
In May the Board of Commissioners of the Port of Oakland ended change approval The Oakland International Airport name faced objections from San Francisco officials, who said the name would cause confusion and hurt SFO financially.
Oakland Airport officials said travelers unfamiliar with the region fly into San Francisco Airport, even though their destination is closer to Oakland Airport on the San Francisco Bay Area. Changing the name to San Francisco’s Bay Oakland International Airport will change that, they say. The airport’s three-letter OAK code would not change.
“We stand with Oakland and the East Bay,” Port Commission Chairwoman Barbara Leslie said in a statement after the vote. “This name will make it clear that OAK is the closest major airport, home to 4.1 million people, three national laboratories, the largest public university in the country and California’s Wine Country.
