Central Florida’s airport name feud is finally over, and Sanford is keeping the brand that has sent more than a few travelers to the wrong terminal. A federal settlement now gives Orlando Sanford International Airport a clear legal path to keep its name and logo for good.
Last Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Paul Byron approved a settlement between the Sanford Airport Authority and the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, which operates Orlando International Airport. The deal orders the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to register Sanford’s name and logo, while allowing GOAA to avoid the expense of a trial, according to the Orlando Sentinel.
For travelers, the ruling does not mean a sudden airport makeover or a change in flight operations. Instead, it ends nearly a decade of legal uncertainty over whether two Central Florida airports could both use “Orlando” and “International” in their names, WFTV reported.
Sanford’s Name Survived A Long Trademark Battle
The dispute dates to 2016, when the Sanford Airport Authority applied to trademark Orlando Sanford International Airport and a related logo. The official USPTO notice records that the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board later sustained GOAA’s opposition, finding the marks likely to cause confusion…