The Port of Oakland and the City and County of San Francisco are nearing a settlement in a trademark infringement lawsuit concerning the renaming of Oakland’s international airport. This development follows a joint stipulation filed in California federal court on December 17, 2025, indicating that both parties have reached a tentative agreement to resolve the dispute.
The conflict began in March 2024 when the Port of Oakland announced plans to rename its airport from “Metropolitan Oakland International Airport” to “San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport.” The Port argued that the new name would enhance geographic awareness and boost passenger traffic. However, San Francisco officials contended that the inclusion of “San Francisco” in the name infringed upon the “San Francisco International Airport” trademark and could lead to consumer confusion. ([latimes.com](https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-04-18/san-francisco-sues-oakland-over-airport-name-change?utm_source=openai))
In April 2024, San Francisco filed a lawsuit against Oakland, alleging trademark infringement and seeking to prevent the name change. The complaint emphasized that the new name could mislead travelers into believing there was an affiliation between the two airports. ([sfcityattorney.org](https://www.sfcityattorney.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Dkt.-1-Complaint.pdf?utm_source=openai))
In November 2024, U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas S. Hixson granted a preliminary injunction, prohibiting Oakland from using the new name while the lawsuit proceeded. The judge determined that the name was “confusingly similar” and could falsely imply an affiliation with San Francisco International Airport. ([cbsnews.com](https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/oakland-airport-trademark-dispute-judge-orders-halt-san-francisco-bay-name/?utm_source=openai))
In response, the Port of Oakland appealed the injunction, arguing that the court’s analysis overlooked the lack of evidence of consumer confusion regarding airport ownership. ([news.bloomberglaw.com](https://news.bloomberglaw.com/ip-law/oaklands-s-f-bay-airport-name-appears-to-split-appeals-panel?utm_source=openai))
In July 2025, while the appeal was pending, the Port introduced a new name: “Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport.” San Francisco officials moved to amend their complaint to include this new name, maintaining that it still infringed upon their trademark. ([news.bloomberglaw.com](https://news.bloomberglaw.com/california-brief/san-francisco-oakland-near-settlement-of-airport-trademark-row?utm_source=openai))
As of December 17, 2025, both parties have filed a joint stipulation indicating a tentative settlement to resolve the trademark dispute. The specific terms of the agreement have not been disclosed, and representatives from both the San Francisco City Attorney’s Office and the Port of Oakland have declined to comment on the details. ([news.bloomberglaw.com](https://news.bloomberglaw.com/california-brief/san-francisco-oakland-near-settlement-of-airport-trademark-row?utm_source=openai))
This case underscores the complexities involved in trademark disputes, particularly when geographic identifiers are at play. The resolution of this conflict will likely have implications for how municipalities and organizations approach branding and naming conventions in the future.