Baylor University and Boston University are working toward resolving a federal trademark lawsuit, but the case was not ready for dismissal in a Sept. 23 filing. Baylor must either file an agreement ending the lawsuit or give the court another settlement update by Oct. 9, 2026. The potential agreement's terms have not been disclosed.
Baylor filed the case Aug. 8, 2025, against Boston University's trustees. Its claims include trademark infringement, unfair competition and false designation of origin under the 1946 Trademark Act. Baylor President Linda Livingstone told baylorlariat.com that the universities are pursuing a resolution. Baylor previously told the court Sept. 9 that it expected to provide an update within two weeks.
Baylor has used its logo since 1912 and applied for federal trademark registration in 1987. Boston University initially challenged that application before the schools agreed both could use the letters "BU." Boston traditionally placed the letters side by side, while Baylor used an interlocked version.
Boston began selling merchandise and club sports jerseys with interlocked letters in 2018. Baylor contacted Boston in 2021, and the design remained on school-sponsored and licensed products, according to the source. Livingstone said protecting Baylor's brands mattered, though litigation was not the university's initial objective.
Baylor marketing associate professor Meredith David said Boston's design could cause buyers to confuse merchandise from the two schools, despite the logos having coexisted for years.
