Overview

• Baylor filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas on August 8, accusing the Trustees of Boston University of trademark infringement, unfair competition and false designation of origin over an allegedly identical interlocking ‘BU’ design.
• The Texas university traces its interlocking BU logo back to 1912, secured federal registration in 1988 after a coexistence agreement, and claims that agreement never authorized Boston University to use the same stylized mark.
• Baylor says it first spotted the contested interlocking logo on three Boston University hat styles in 2018 and lodged a formal objection in 2021, but asserts that BU’s use has since spread to merchandise and club-sports branding.
• Boston University officials have declined broad comment on the litigation, while an athletics department spokesperson clarified that the interlocking BU is not used on varsity team uniforms.
• The case remains active with Boston University expected to file its response soon; observers note BU may counter with fair-use arguments, contractual interpretations or timeliness defenses and that a settlement or licensing agreement remains a plausible resolution.