Court temporarily blocks Oakland airport's use of ‘San Francisco Bay’ in name, siding with SFO
SAN FRANCISCO - A federal court has temporarily blocked Oakland Airport from using its new name, San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport.
The court agreed with the City of San Francisco, which sought an injunction against the Port of Oakland following the name change, arguing it was a case of trademark infringement.
San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu said the federal judge agreed that travelers would think the two airports are affiliated.
"The new name for the Oakland Airport strongly implies affiliation with San Francisco and the San Francisco International Airport. This damages the goodwill and value of San Francisco's mark and deprives San Francisco of control over its mark," he said.
Chiu argued the words "San Francisco" in the new name could confuse travelers who might associate Oakland's airport with San Francisco International Airport. He said SFO recorded incidences of confusion.
"We know of instances where individuals book flights to SFO intending to travel to Oakland," he said. "We know of travelers that have been directed to the wrong airport by rideshare services and digital assistants."
In May, Oakland Board of Port Commissioners at the Port of Oakland, which manages the city's airport, voted to rename the Metropolitan Oakland International Airport to San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport in a controversial move. The airport's code, OAK, remained unchanged, and its logo was not altered.
The board had hoped the name change would draw more nonstop flights by highlighting the airport's location on the San Francisco Bay.
Tuesday's ruling temporarily prevents Oakland from using the new name and requires all signage and digital materials with the words "San Francisco" be immediately removed.
In response to the ruling, Oakland airport officials said,"OAK is not associated with SFO, of course, but is rather a convenient and centrally located option for travelers throughout the Bay Area. We are continuing to review the recent ruling and considering all available options."
Patent attorney Amir Adibi said while the preliminary injunction is temporary, it could indicate the chances of Oakland winning the lawsuit are slim.
"It's a huge win for San Francisco because they've effectively convinced a judge that they're likely to prevail on the merit," he said.
Adibi said Oakland should look at alternative names.
"A preliminary injunction seems to be pretty hard to get, and so the fact that a judge this early in the case is willing to grant one, I think it should be a huge indicator to Oakland for the Port of Oakland that maybe they should reconsider," he said,
Chiu said the city of San Francisco will continue pursuing the lawsuit. There is no timeline for when a permanent decision will be made by the courts.
The Port of Oakland said "it is reviewing the recent ruling and considering all available options."