Elon Musk is facing controversy once again due to the recent launch of a new Twitter logo called “X.” The city of San Francisco has taken notice of this development and has opened a complaint, initiating an investigation into a giant “X” sign installed atop the building that was formerly known as Twitter headquarters. City officials assert that any modifications to building letters or symbols, including the installation of signs, require permits for design and safety purposes.
The appearance of the “X” logo came about after San Francisco police intervened on Monday when workers attempted to remove Twitter’s iconic blue bird logo from the building’s side. The removal was halted as the workers had not taken necessary safety measures to protect pedestrians on the sidewalk.
Patrick Hannan stated that the installation of the “X” sign also necessitates planning review and approval. As a result, the city has decided to launch a complaint and conduct an investigation into the matter.
Elon Musk, who acquired Twitter for a staggering $44 billion last year, unveiled the new “X” logo as part of his efforts to revamp the social media platform. This new logo began appearing at the top of Twitter’s desktop version on Monday.
Musk’s fascination with the letter “X” is not new, as he had already renamed Twitter’s corporate name to X Corp. after purchasing the platform. He has a history of incorporating the letter “X” into his ventures, co-founding x.com as an online bank in 1999, which later evolved into PayPal. In 2017, Musk bought back the domain x.com from PayPal, citing its sentimental value.
However, rebranding Twitter as “X” could present legal challenges, considering that the letter is already widely used and trademarked by other companies like Meta and Microsoft. These companies hold intellectual property rights to the same letter, adding complexity to Musk’s decision.