A new legal skirmish is brewing as Elon Musk, through X Corp (formerly Twitter), has filed a motion objecting to the attempted sale or transfer of Alex Jones’ X accounts. This move comes as Jones faces asset liquidation following a court ruling.
X Corp’s Stance: Accounts are Licensed, Not Owned
The core of X Corp’s argument is that X accounts are not the property of users but are services provided by the platform. According to X Corp’s legal team:
- Terms of Service: Accounts on X are governed by the platform’s terms of service.
- Non-Transferable License: Users, including Alex Jones, are granted a non-exclusive license to use the X services. This license, however, is non-assignable.
- X Owns the Service: X Corp maintains that it is the sole owner of the services (the accounts themselves). While users own the content they post, the account itself remains under X’s control.
- Distinction Between Content and Account: X Corp differentiates between the content posted on an account (which the user owns) and the account service itself (which X Corp owns). They are not opposed to the sale of Jones’ content, but firmly object to the transfer of the actual X accounts, including those personally associated with Jones and his entities like Infowars, band.video, and War Room Show.
Legal Maneuvering
X Corp’s legal team, including lawyers from Latham & Watkins, submitted this objection in the Southern District of Texas. They argue that the trustee overseeing Jones’ asset liquidation is attempting to improperly sell or transfer assets that neither Jones nor his bankruptcy estate actually own.
Prior to filing the formal objection, X Corp attempted to reach a consensual resolution with the trustee’s counsel. However, they were unable to secure assurances that would have prevented the need for this legal action.
Implications and What’s Next
This move by Elon Musk and X Corp is seen as a significant show of support for Alex Jones. The argument hinges on the interpretation of X’s terms of service and the nature of social media account ownership. The court will now have to consider whether X accounts can be treated as transferable assets in a bankruptcy proceeding.
The outcome could set a precedent for how social media accounts are handled in similar situations. For now, Alex Jones may get to retain access to his X accounts, pending the court’s decision on X Corp’s objection. This is a developing story, and the legal battle over these digital assets is just beginning.
