Elon Musk於2022年以440億美元收購社群媒體公司Twitter，且在2023年7月決定將Twitter藍鳥商標改為黑白「X」，若Elon Musk將黑白「X」申請美國商標註冊可能面臨無法註冊的問題。

    依美國商標法規定，商標含有近似於美國專利商標局注冊商標、他人於美國境內先使用且未放棄之商標及商號名稱，或由此所構成，以致于使用在申請人商品或相關商品，有致生混淆誤認、錯誤或欺騙之虞，則不核准註冊於主要註冊簿。

    在美國有將近900個活躍商標包含「X」，其中就有Mark Zuckerberg的Meta公司註冊的藍白「X」，Meta公司於 2017 年 5 月 25 日申請註冊藍白「X」商標，且於2019年6月正式註冊。

    而Meta公司註冊的藍白「X」用於娛樂、遊戲、應用程式開發領域的社交網路服務，此外Microsoft也註冊了與其 Xbox遊戲機相關的字母「X」商標，因此Elon Musk的黑白「X」可能無法註冊美國商標。

    且即使准許注冊商標，Elon Musk也難以對使用近似黑白「X」的其他品牌主張商標權，

甚至可能遭Meta公司主張黑白「X」侵害Meta公司藍白「X」的商標權。

（非原創，引用：

https://www.foxbusiness.com/technology/meta-trademark-x-logo-may-pose-legal-issues-twitter-musk-company-rebranding

https://www.independent.co.uk/tech/twitter-elon-musk-meta-x-trademark-b2382731.html）

Legal Implications of Twitter’s Trademark Changing to “X”

    After spending $44 billion to acquire the social media company Twitter in 2022, Elon Musk decided, in July 2023, to change Twitter’s blue bird logo to a black and white “X.” However, Elon Musk may find himself unable to register the black and white “X” as Twitter’s new trademark in the United States.

    As a matter of fact, pursuant to the relevant provisions of the U.S. Trademark Law, if a trademark comprises a mark resembling a mark registered in the U.S. Trademark Office, or a mark or trade name previously used in the United States by another and not abandoned, as to be likely, when used on or in connection with the goods of the applicant, to cause confusion, or to cause mistake, or to deceive, then such trademark shall be refused registration on the principal register.

    There are currently nearly 900 active trademarks containing "X" in the United States. One of these trademarks is a blue and white “X” registered by Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta company. Meta applied for this blue and white “X” trademark on May 25, 2017, and the trademark was formally registered in June 2019. 

    This blue and white "X" has been registered by Meta for use in relation to social network services in the entertainment, gaming, and application development sectors. Additionally, Microsoft has also registered a letter “X” trademark in connection with its Xbox game console. Given these circumstances, the U.S. Trademark Office may refuse to register Elon Musk’s black and white “X” trademark.

    Moreover, even if this trademark were to be registered, it would be difficult for Elon Musk to assert his trademark rights against other brands also using a similar black and white “X” logo or mark. Meta could even claim that Twitter’s black and white "X" trademark infringes on Meta's blue and white "X" trademark.

The references cited in this article are as follows: https://www.foxbusiness.com/technology/meta-trademark-x-logo-may-pose-legal-issues-twitter-musk-company-rebranding | https://www.independent.c o.uk/tech/twitter-elon-musk-meta-x-trademark-b2382731.html）

by 黃愷蜜 顧問