Matthew Clapham
Jul 31, 2023

--

One key point is that Musk cannot own X as he now, as the corporate proprietor, owns the brandname 'Twitter' and the popularised verb and noun 'tweet'.

'X' already means an infinite number of things (quite literally, as the mathematical signifier for 'any unknown quantity').

It will never be possible to 'X' someone, to see an 'X', and for that unequivocally to refer to the platform.

So he inevitably has a fractured brand identity from day one, and forever.

Either X is the brand, but the platform still refers to 'tweets'.

Or it uses the x-based phraseology and competes in the mindspace with every other long-established use and meaning of 'X'.

The conceptual monopoly is lost.

I call it hubriX.

--

--

Matthew Clapham
Matthew Clapham

Written by Matthew Clapham

Professional translator by day. Writer of silly and serious stuff by night. Also by day, when I get fed up of tedious translations. Founder of Iberospherical.

Responses (1)