San Francisco Sues Oakland Over Potential Airport Name Change Confusion

What’s in a name? Oakland airport is willing to risk a lawsuit to change their name to the “San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport” (OAK). Not to be confused with it’s more famous counterpart, the San Francisco International Airport (SFO). However, SFO contends that the confusion is exactly what OAK is going for with this latest name change. 11.2 passengers passed through OAK in 2023. In comparison, SFO had 50 million passengers in 2023.  

The City of San Francisco has filed a federal trademark infringement lawsuit, just a week after the Port of Oakland Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a plan to rename Oakland International Airport to San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport. The Port of Oakland denies that the name change will infringe on SFO’s trademark, and claims that the airport code OAK and visual brand will not change. 

The City of San Francisco claims it has raised concerns about the name change with the City of Oakland that the change would create confusion among consumers. San Francisco has owned the US federal trademark on “San Francisco International Airport” since 1954. The lawsuit seeks a court order to immediately stop the use of the proposed name and require Oakland to destroy any materials with the new name.  

This is not the first time that a San Francisco Bay Area has attempted to co-opt the name for itself. In 2017, the City of Stockton tried to rename its airport to “San Francisco-Stockton Regional Airport.” SFO successfully lobbied against the name change and Stockton Metropolitan Airport retains its original name today.  

Trademark Infringement 

A trademark is any word, phrase, symbol, design, or combination thereof that identifies a product, service, brand, or entity. Famous trademarks include McDonald’s golden arches, Google’s logo, or the phrase “Hasta la Vista Baby” from the Terminator movies. Trademarks must be registered with the federal government to be protected by trademark laws. A trademark owner does not legally own the word or phrase. Instead, a trademark only protects the words or symbol from being used to misrepresent a specific product, service, or entity.  

The potential for confusion is significant here. The two airports are only separated by a mere thirty miles across the local San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge. They are both in the same industry. Both airports have international travelers, whose English may not be sufficient to perceive the difference between the two names. There is a high risk that passengers intending to travel through one airport may mistakenly book a flight to the other.   

Oakland may argue that the new name highlights its proximity to its more famous counterpart. Further, OAK is not changing its airport code or visual brand such that travelers can still distinguish between the two airports. However, SFO contends that at least one airline, Azores Airlines, has already adopted the moniker “San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport” in its website when a user registers for a flight. It is only a matter of time before an unwary customer clicks on the wrong name (which is located right next to each other).  

The incredible thing is that Oakland has seemingly not contemplated any alternative names. There is no reason why the phrase “San Francisco Bay” has to be in front. For instance, “Oakland-San Francisco Bay Metropolitan Airport” would probably accomplish the same goal without the confusion.  

Do I Need a Lawyer for Trademark Infringement? 

It is highly recommended to consult with a skill trademark lawyer if you are facing trademark infringement issues. A lawyer can help you understand your rights, evaluate your case, and provide guidance on the best course of action.