San Francisco, July 27: As Twitter is being rebranded as 'X', the company has taken over the @x handle on the platform without warning or compensating its original owner. The owner of the @x Twitter handle confirmed that the company took over the account, telling him the handle is the property of X, reports TechCrunch, citing sources.

The account had previously belonged to Gene X Hwang of the corporate photography and videography studio Orange Photography. In a letter, the company thanked Hwang for his loyalty, offered him a selection of X merchandise and also extended an invitation to visit X's headquarters, as a "reflection of our appreciation". Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 Launched at Unpacked Event in South Korea; from Price to Specs to Features, Here’s All the Details.
 

Hwang was surprised the company hadn't contacted him about the @x account he owned and had put it private. However, he stated that he would be open to a conversation with the company if they desired the handle for themselves.

Hwang said that X gave him a letter informing him that the @x account is connected to X Corp. and that he will be given a new handle. According to the company, all of his data, including his followers and following data, would be transferred to his new account. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 Launched at Unpacked Event in South Korea; Checkout Official Price, Specs, Features and More.

"It would have been nice for them to compensate for it since it did have a lot of value to me, but things are what they are," Hwang told TechCrunch. "Maybe I should ask for the bird from the sign since they were dismantling that yesterday too," he joked.

Musk had started hinting at the rebranding on Sunday with a series of tweets, starting with one that said, "soon we shall bid adieu to the Twitter brand and, gradually, all the birds."

Musk on Tuesday clarified, "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," he added.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 27, 2023 11:23 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).