In a legal clash between two universities on opposite sides of the country, Baylor University has taken Boston University to court over what it claims is an infringing use of an interlocked "BU" logo. Baylor, a private Texas institution, asserts that Boston University's logo is "essentially identical and/or confusingly similar" to its own long-established emblem, and has filed a lawsuit to resolve the matter, according to court documents cited by Boston.com.
Baylor's complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court in Texas, accuses Boston University of trademark infringement, unfair competition, and false designation of origin. The Texas university's legal stance is grounded on its historical use of the interlocked logo, which dates back to 1912 and has come to symbolize the Baylor identity on merchandise and in the broader public consciousness. In the pursuit of restitution, Baylor seeks not only to recover the costs of the lawsuit, but also to have Boston University "destroy" any materials featuring the contested logo and to report on how they have complied, as highlighted by court filings.
Despite previous talks and a 1988 agreement detailing how each institution could use the "BU" initials, Baylor alleges that Boston University expanded the usage of the interlocked design, prompting them to legally respond. Baylor has, as reported by WCVB, "developed an enormous amount of goodwill, public recognition, and strong rights in those marks," which they now seek to defend in a court of law. The complaint further elaborates on the potential confusion arising from Boston University's logo, potentially leading consumers to believe there is some form of association between the two institutions.
While Baylor has made clear their position of protecting a symbol ingrained in their identity, Boston University has yet to publicly respond to the lawsuit. Baylor detailed instances from 2018 and 2021 where they made requests to Boston University to stop using the disputed logo, but their pleas went unheeded, hence the move to litigate. The outcome of this logo face-off remains to be seen as the case progresses through the legal system and toward resolution.
