San Francisco accused of bullying over lawsuit to halt confusing Oakland airport name change: Stay away from our brand
Fog-geddaboutit! San Francisco has been accused of “bullying” after slapping nearby Oakland with a trademark lawsuit — sharply warning the crossbay rival to “stay away” from its brand.The brouhaha by the Bay began after the burg Gertrude Stein once described as having “no there there” rebranded its airport (OAK) — formerly known as “Metropolitan Oakland International” — to the broader “San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport.” The move was designed to better inform travelers as to the airport’s location, Port of Oakland officials stated.“The convenience and ease of traveling through OAK won’t change with our name,” the port’s Interim Director of Aviation Craig Simon assured reporters earlier this year.“OAK is the closest major airport to 58 percent of the Bay Area population.
The combined population of the counties closest to OAK is 4.1 million compared with 1.5 million in San Francisco and San Mateo counties.This designation will let the world know who we serve,” Simon explained.But critics — starting with the neighbors over the bridge — were less than impressed.Now, San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu is calling for a ground stop against the Port, accusing them of “intentionally and knowingly capitalizing off of confusion,” CNN Travel reported.
“We are already seeing traveler confusion around the use of Oakland’s new name.This was entirely predictable and preventable,” Chiu said in a statement released to the media.“San Francisco has invested millions in making San Francisco International Airport the world class airport it is today.
We have built an incredible brand that we must protect.Oakland has a trademark for Oakland International Airport.
It should use that and stay away from San Francisco’s brand,” the city’s legal honcho sniped.Port reps were quick to pour water on the claims.“The recent injunctive relief request by the San Francisco City Attorney’s Office is a continuati...