US Airports Fight Over Right To Use Name 'San Francisco'

The authorized turbulence started in April when officers in San Francisco sued for copyright infringement

San Francisco:

Lawsuits are flying in a dispute between two California airports over the precise to make use of the title “San Francisco” — regardless of neither of them being within the metropolis.

San Francisco Worldwide Airport (SFO) is suing the just lately renamed San Francisco Bay Oakland Worldwide Airport (OAK), insisting the same sounding names may confuse potential passengers.

Their lawsuit has been met with a counterclaim from The Port of Oakland asking a decide to rule its airport’s new moniker — which changed “Metropolitan Oakland Worldwide Airport” — just isn’t a copyright infringement.

“Altering ‘Metropolitan’ to ‘San Francisco Bay’ in Oakland Airport’s title precisely describes OAK’s geographic location on the Bay and presents the airport as an extra selection for journey into the San Francisco Bay Space,” mentioned port legal professional Mary Richardson on Thursday, asserting the lawsuit.

The San Francisco metropolis legal professional’s determination to pursue litigation “is an try to cease client training, stop expanded air journey choices for Bay Space residents and guests, and is a misguided use of San Francisco taxpayer {dollars},” she added.

The authorized turbulence started in April when officers in San Francisco sued for copyright infringement, claiming the title change was a buyer seize and an effort to poach enterprise.

“The Metropolitan Oakland Worldwide Airport seeks to extend passengers and earnings by dashing to unlawfully incorporate San Francisco Worldwide Airport’s trademarked title into its personal,” the go well with says.

Passengers might simply combine up the 2 locations, the go well with says, and find yourself stranded.

“The potential for confusion might be notably acute for worldwide vacationers who could not communicate or learn English,” it says.

“Vacationers will very doubtless be confused and e-book tickets to the unintended airport, pondering that the ‘San Francisco Bay Oakland Worldwide Airport’ is SFO and arrive within the flawed place, a mistake resulting in missed flights and connections, amongst different issues.”

Regardless of the lawsuit, officers in Oakland voted unanimously to undertake the brand new title on Thursday, in a transfer that won’t have an effect on the “OAK” designation used on baggage tags.

The 2 airports sit simply 10 miles (16 kilometers) aside, on reverse sides of San Francisco Bay.

Neither of them is definitely in San Francisco — SFO is in San Mateo County whereas OAK is in Oakland.

Each airports are a 20-40 minute taxi journey to downtown San Francisco.

(Aside from the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is printed from a syndicated feed.)

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