Operation Bluebird has launched Twitter.now, a new social media network that aims to bring back Twitter name and logo after Elon Musk changed Twitter to X in 2022.
Virginia-based startup Operation Bluebird announced launch Monday. Stephen Coates, cofounder of Operation Bluebird and new general counsel for Twitter.now, said company has investors, a product, and plans to move ahead after waiting for months.
Coates and his team believe X Corporation abandoned Twitter identity and related intellectual property after Musk bought Twitter in 2022 and changed company name to X.
Operation Bluebird used this claim to seek rights over Twitter trademarks. X Corporation then sued Operation Bluebird and asked a federal court in Delaware to stop launch of a new Twitter service.
Court Ruling May Help Operation Bluebird
Legal fight between both sides started before Twitter.now launch. In April 2026, US District Court Judge Colm Connolly gave a tentative ruling during a hearing.
Judge Connolly said X appeared to have given up intellectual property claims related to word “tweet” and Twitter bird logo. Judge also raised a possible issue over Twitter name.
Judge has not yet issued a written order.
Coates views judge comments as enough support to launch Twitter.now. He said Operation Bluebird believes X abandoned rights related to Twitter and tweet trademarks.
Operation Bluebird website says company picked up name after X Corp. walked away from it. Company also says Twitter.now has no connection with X Corp.
X Corporation, Elon Musk, and X attorney Andrew Mayo did not provide an immediate response to Ars request for comment.
Twitter.now Brings Back Old Twitter Features
Twitter.now has only hundreds of users after launch, but platform follows much of old Twitter design and function.
Users can post messages, reply to posts, and retweet content. Platform aims to create a social network based around public discussion and free speech.
Operation Bluebird also plans to make fact-checking a key part of Twitter.now.
AI Fact-Checking Tool Runs on Posts
Twitter.now includes an automated fact-checking system called Vera. Tool uses Google Gemini technology for real-time content analysis.
Coates has tested Vera by posting false claims, including a post that says George Washington was second US president.
Vera aims to identify false or inaccurate information during normal platform use.
Coates said first goal is to create a safer online town square. He also said platform supports freedom of speech but does not want to increase reach for harmful or inaccurate viral content.
This approach gives Twitter.now a feature that was not part of old Twitter in same form.
X Trademark Fight May Continue
Trademark attorney Josh Gerben, who follows case, said Operation Bluebird may have a legal theory for arguing that X Corporation abandoned Twitter trademark.
However, Gerben said case is not settled. Launch of Twitter.now could lead to another response from X Corporation.
Operation Bluebird has now moved beyond filing trademark applications and launched a working social media network. This could increase pressure in ongoing legal fight.
For now, Twitter.now remains a small platform with hundreds of users, while its trademark dispute with X Corporation remains unresolved. A written court order could provide more clarity about ownership and use of Twitter name, tweet trademark, and Twitter bird logo.
