SFO and Oakland settle trademark dispute — ‘Oakland San Francisco Bay’ name stays – San Francisco Chronicle

Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport will keep its name, officials at the San Francisco City Attorney’s Office said Tuesday, announcing a settlement in the trademark dispute that became an intercity spat.

Officials in San Francisco filed the lawsuit in April 2024 after the Port of Oakland — which manages the city’s airport — decided to embellish the facility’s name. For a fleeting period, planes took off and landed from runways at the “San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport,” located just west of the Oakland Coliseum and a troubled stretch of Hegenberger Road, about 12 miles from San Francisco. 

To port officials in Oakland, the name was on-brand and made geographic sense. After all, the airport sits at the literal edge of San Francisco Bay. But leaders in San Francisco said the new name, in minimizing the “Oakland” part, would surely cause confusion for travelers.

In the fall of 2024, a federal judge rejected the new name and blocked Oakland from using it, saying that San Francisco International Airport had already invested millions of dollars into San Francisco brand symbology. Though Oakland contested that order to the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, port leaders conceded to rechristen the airport again, this time to Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport.

With the new court settlement, that name has stuck. Attorneys for both cities signed the legal document last week, and have posted copies on the airports’ respective websites. Nobody admitted to liability, and no money was exchanged. The terms bar Oakland from using “SF,” “San Francisco,” or “SFO” at the beginning of any self-reference, such as a social media hashtag. Additionally, the language stipulates that the  “San Francisco” part of Oakland’s name must always be immediately followed by the word “Bay.”

Prohibited names include: “San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport,” “Oakland San Francisco International Bay Airport,” and “Oakland San Francisco Bay International Airport.”

While the resolution seemed amicable, leaders of San Francisco and Oakland each struck a parrying tone in statements following Tuesday’s announcement.

“We’re proud Oakland fought for, and preserved the right to retain our airport’s full name that puts Oakland first and recognizes OAK’s location on the San Francisco Bay,” said port attorney Mary Richardson. 

SFO director Mike Nakornkhet said the agreement would provide clarity so that consumers can make “informed decisions” about where to fly. He pledged to “continue delivering an exceptional travel experience for San Franciscans and visitors alike,” adding that his staff looks “forward to welcoming travelers to San Francisco.”