In the early hours of July 24, 2023, a surprising shift occurred on Twitter. The iconic blue bird that has been the trademark of the platform for years was superseded by a fan-created “𝕏” symbol – actually not because it’s a Unicode Character “𝕏” (U+1D54F) so essentially it can`t be claimed by anyone.
The mysterious “X” now takes center stage not just on the Twitter homepage but also as the profile image for the official @twitter account and the image that greets users on the reload screen.
The familiar blue bird has vanished from most areas of the service, effectively passing on the baton to the “X” logo. What’s more, the “X” now graces the website as its favicon and holds a prominent place within mobile applications. It’s a striking change that has sparked intrigue and speculation amongst users, fueling conversations and theories about the potential reasons and implications for such a sudden shift in branding.
Unicode Character “𝕏” (U+1D54F)
Mathematical alphanumeric symbols are used to represent mathematical equations and expressions with a stylized appearance. The Double-Struck Capital X is similar in shape to a regular capital letter “X” but has a distinct appearance, often with a blackboard-bold style. It is commonly used in mathematics, physics, and other scientific contexts to denote certain sets or algebraic structures, such as the set of real numbers or certain vector spaces.
For instance, the symbol “𝕏” might represent the set of real numbers in certain mathematical equations or expressions, indicating that the variable or value associated with it belongs to the real number system. These symbols provide a way to convey mathematical concepts more clearly and with a unique visual style.
What’s the deal with the X?
The Twitter logo bears striking resemblances to the Unicode character “𝕏” (U+1D54F). This particular code point was introduced in version 3.1 of the Unicode® Standard and is classified within the “Mathematical Alphanumeric Symbols” block, ranging from 0x1D400 to 0x1D7FF.
Elon’s fixation on labeling everything with an “X” is evident, from Space X and Model X to X AE A-12, and now a simplified “X.” The recently unveiled logo bears a striking resemblance to SpaceX, exuding a subtle yet distinct “X” character, making it truly impressive.
Can Elon Musk`s Twitter “X” Unicode symbol, now logo be subject to copyright?
At the base level, Unicode symbols themselves aren’t typically copyrightable as they are just representations of characters or glyphs – similar to letters in the alphabet. They’re considered part of the public domain, much like the Latin alphabet or Arabic numerals. Every Unicode symbol, including”𝕏“, resides in the public domain, enabling their unrestricted usage for any objective, encompassing commercial endeavors, without the necessity of securing any form of approval.
There’s a parallel in other domains too, such as music. Think about a musical note: you can’t copyright a single note, but a composition of notes (a song) can indeed be copyrighted. It’s the same with a Unicode character versus a designed font. “Font Contributors Acknowledgements“
Why did X Corp Purchase Twitter?
“Twitter was acquired by X Corp both to ensure freedom of speech and as an accelerant for X, the everything app. This is not simply a company renaming itself, but doing the same thing. The Twitter name made sense when it was just 140 character messages going back and forth – like birds tweeting – but now you can post almost anything, including several hours of video. In the months to come, we will add comprehensive communications and the ability to conduct your entire financial world. The Twitter name does not make sense in that context, so we must bid adieu to the bird.” – Elon Musk
I must admit that the recent change introduced by Musk has sparked mixed reactions among Twitter users. While some of his devoted fans are quick to applaud any move he makes, there are long-time users of the messaging service who don’t seem too thrilled about the alteration. One such user is Marques Brownlee, who has been a part of the platform since 2009. In response to the change, he stated that he would continue calling it Twitter, to which Musk confidently retorted, “Not for long.” This exchange has certainly piqued the interest of many, and it’s fascinating to see how technology and communication platforms evolve over time, especially considering the distant future possibilities.
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Last Updated on 08/20/2023 by Emmanuel Motelin
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