San Francisco city, county file lawsuit over Oakland airport name change

San Francisco airport lawsuit overview: 

• Who: San Francisco city and county filed a lawsuit against Oakland. 
• Why: Oakland changed its airport name to San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport, which San Francisco believes is trademark infringement.
• Where: The San Francisco lawsuit was filed in federal court in California.

San Francisco filed a lawsuit against Oakland after the Metropolitan Oakland International Airport changed its name to San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport, which San Francisco believes is trademark infringement.

The name change was “hasty and unnecessary” and Oakland has refused to engage in discussions with San Francisco over the name change, according to the lawsuit. San Francisco claims the name change is federal trademark infringement, false designation of origin, and unfair competition violating the Lanham Act.

Oakland allegedly contacted the director of the San Francisco airport about the name change 30 minutes before the Oakland airport issued a press release about the name change.

“Defendant has publicly stated that it is merely making a geographic reference and that its main purpose for the name change is to increase passenger traffic at its airport, create jobs and boost economic activity in Oakland,” the Oakland airport lawsuit says. “The city supports these goals and wants defendant and its airport to thrive for the benefit of the region.”

New Oakland airport name will confuse public, lawsuit claims

San Francisco believes that having the words “San Francisco” at the beginning of the Oakland airport’s name will add confusion for the public.

“The potential for confusion will be particularly acute for international travelers who may not speak or read English and comprise an essential part of SFO’s consumer base,” the Oakland airport lawsuit says.

That will lead travelers to book tickets to the wrong airport and miss flights or connections, the lawsuit says.

What do you think of the Oakland Airport name change? Let us know in the comments.

San Francisco is represented by city attorneys David Chiu, Jesse Smith, Yvonne R. Mere, Julie Veit, Christopher Stuart, and attorneys Michael E. Dergosits and Igor Shoiket of Dergosits & Noah LLP.

The San Francisco airport lawsuit is City and County of San Francisco v. City of Oakland, Case No. 3:24-cv-02311, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

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