In a recent court decision, Oakland International Airport has been ordered to abandon its new name, “San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport.” The Port of Oakland initially rebranded in April, adding “San Francisco Bay” to boost its recognition among travelers who may not realize Oakland’s place within the Bay Area. However, the City of San Francisco challenged the move, claiming trademark infringement and confusion for travelers, ultimately leading to a lawsuit against Oakland.
San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu expressed relief over the ruling, noting that efforts to resolve the issue amicably with Oakland had fallen short. “San Francisco has invested millions in making San Francisco International Airport® a world-class facility,” Chiu stated, emphasizing the need to protect SFO’s well-established brand.
Court documents revealed instances of confusion, including cases where travelers mistakenly headed to San Francisco International (SFO) instead of Oakland. Social media posts even showed visitors tagging Oakland Airport with images taken at SFO. This evidence, coupled with San Francisco’s assertion of brand harm, led the court to rule that the “San Francisco Bay” label at Oakland Airport would result in “irreparable harm” to SFO’s brand.