Federal judge orders Oakland airport to stop using ‘San Francisco’ in its name
A federal judge has ordered the Port of Oakland to stop using Oakland San Francisco Bay International Airport as its new name while a lawsuit filed by the city of San Francisco is going on.
San Francisco sued in April over what it said was trademark infringement and asked a federal judge to issue a preliminary injunction, arguing that the airport’s new name caused confusion among people wanting to fly to San Francisco International Airport and violated the law. copyright infringement.
U.S. Judge Thomas Hixson on Tuesday issued an order agreeing with the copyright infringement argument, saying San Francisco has spent millions developing its brand. The judge also ordered the Oakland airport to remove any signs with the new name.
Port of Oakland spokesman Robert Bernardo said officials are reviewing the ruling and weighing their options, including an appeal.
The May Board of Oakland Port Commissioners was completed change approval name of Oakland International Airport over the objections of San Francisco officials, who argued that the name would cause confusion and affect SFO’s finances.
Oakland airport officials say travelers unfamiliar with the area will fly into the San Francisco airport even if their destination is closer to the Oakland airport on the San Francisco Bay. They say changing the name to Oakland Bay San Francisco International Airport would change that. The airport’s three-letter code OAK will not change.
“We are standing up for Oakland and the East Bay,” Port Commission Chairwoman Barbara Leslie said in a statement after the vote. “The name will make it clear that OAK is the closest major airport to 4.1 million people, three national laboratories, the top public university in the country and California’s Wine Country.
