"An identical logo revives a 40-year-old battle over company brands"
Baylor University has taken legal action against Boston University, alleging trademark infringement over the use of an interlocking "BU" logo design that Baylor claims is virtually identical to its own federally registered mark[1][2][3][4][5]. The lawsuit, filed in Waco, Texas, seeks to permanently stop Boston University from using the interlocking BU logo, demands destruction of all merchandise bearing the logo, and requests monetary damages for infringement, unfair competition, and false designation of origin[1][2][3].
The dispute has a long history: the two universities had a coexistence agreement dating back to 1988 that allowed Boston University to use the letters "BU" side-by-side rather than the interlocking design Baylor owns[1][3][4]. However, Baylor alleges that starting around 2018, Boston University began using the interlocking BU logo on various products and in connection with club sports, violating that agreement. Baylor claims it warned Boston University to stop in 2021, but the use continued and even expanded substantially in Boston University's campus store and online[1][4].
Boston University has stated that the interlocking BU logo is not used as its varsity athletics logo and has not publicly commented on the lawsuit due to ongoing litigation[1].
Key points about the logos and legal issues include:
- Baylor’s trademark on the interlocking BU dates to 1987 and continuous use since 1912.
- The 1988 coexistence agreement allowed Boston University to use the letters BU but in a distinct “side-by-side” format, not the interlocking style.
- The lawsuit alleges Boston University’s recent use of the interlocking design on merchandise causes confusion and infringes Baylor’s trademark rights.
- Baylor seeks a court injunction and destruction of infringing items to prevent ongoing harm to its brand identity and goodwill tied to the interlocking logo[2][3][5].
- Boston University’s potential defenses may include the decades of peaceful coexistence and geographic separation as reducing likelihood of confusion, but Baylor’s claim centers on expanded use and confusion caused by a nearly identical design[3].
This legal battle highlights the importance universities place on protecting uniquely designed logos as vital brand assets beyond mere initials, especially when those designs involve long-standing trademarks and agreements between institutions[2]. The case is still pending, with Boston University expected to respond and possibly raise counterclaims as the litigation proceeds[3].
The merchandise items in question include hats, t-shirts, bottles, sweaters, and other items where the interlocking BU design has been a significant part of Baylor's identity, appearing on various merchandise items over the decades[1][5].
The ongoing battle between Baylor University and Boston University is not the first instance of a design dispute over a logo. The Iowa school logo dispute is another example of a design dispute that tried to settle who gets the 'D'. Similarly, another ongoing design dispute in Dallas also centres around a confusingly similar logo design[6].
Baylor University is seeking reparations for Boston's use of the design due to its confusingly similar nature, claiming that the use of the "confusingly similar" design is causing irreparable harm for which there is no adequate remedy at law[5].
[1] The Waco Tribune-Herald
[2] The Dallas Morning News
[3] Bloomberg Law
[4] The Boston Globe
[5] The New York Times
[6] The Gazette
- The interlocking "BU" logo design that Baylor University has claimed as its own trademark dates back to 1987 and has been in continuous use since 1912.
- The 1988 coexistence agreement between Baylor University and Boston University allowed the latter to use the letters "BU" side-by-side, not the interlocking design that Baylor owns.
- The lawsuit filed by Baylor University against Boston University alleges that Boston University's recent use of the interlocking BU logo on various products and in connection with club sports has infringed on Baylor's trademark rights.
- The merchandise items in question include hats, t-shirts, bottles, sweaters, and other items where the interlocking BU design has been a significant part of Baylor's identity.
- Boston University's potential defenses may include decades of peaceful coexistence and geographic separation as reducing likelihood of confusion, but Baylor's claim centers on expanded use and confusion caused by a nearly identical design.
- The ongoing legal battle between Baylor University and Boston University emphasizes the importance of universities protecting uniquely designed logos as vital brand assets.
- The sports-betting industry also values unique logo designs as brand assets, with several ongoing disputes, such as those in Dallas and the Iowa school logo dispute, example cases of such design disputes.
