A U.S. judge on Tuesday temporarily blocked the Port of Oakland from using “San Francisco” in the Oakland airport’s name, finding the name change would likely cause consumer confusion and harm the city of San Francisco.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas Hixson said in the decision that changing the name of Metropolitan Oakland International Airport in nearby Oakland to “San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport” would likely mislead consumers into thinking it is connected with San Francisco.
San Francisco sued Oakland for infringing its airport’s trademarks in April, arguing the Oakland airport’s similar new name would confuse travelers.
Oakland’s airport is 12 miles east of San Francisco and just over 30 miles from San Francisco International Airport, whose airport code is SFO.
San Francisco International served 47 million passengers in fiscal year 2023 while Oakland’s airport served more than 11 million, according to city reports.
Persons:
Francisco ”, Judge Thomas Hixson, Spokespeople, San Francisco, Hixson, San Francisco ’, ” Hixson, ”
Organizations:
San Francisco . U.S, Metropolitan Oakland International Airport, “ San Francisco Bay, International, Port, Oakland, San Francisco International Airport, San Francisco International, Dallas
Locations:
Oakland, Francisco, San Francisco ., “ San Francisco, San Francisco, Port, United States, Oakland’s, Chicago, Dallas, London, Paris, Beijing, San Francisco Bay, U.S, “