Baylor University and Boston University are nearing an agreement to end a federal lawsuit over Boston’s use of an interlocking “BU” logo, more than a year after Baylor filed the case.
Baylor President Linda Livingstone said the universities are working together on the matter and are close to resolving it. Baylor’s Sept. 23 court filing also said the parties had made substantial progress, but the lawsuit could not yet be dismissed because the settlement had not been completed.
The case began with Baylor’s Aug. 8, 2025, lawsuit against Boston University’s trustees. Baylor accused Boston of trademark infringement, unfair competition and false designation of origin under the Trademark Act of 1946.
Baylor has used its “BU” mark since 1912 and sought federal trademark registration in 1987. The universities previously reached an agreement allowing both to use the letters. Boston traditionally displayed the letters next to each other, while Baylor used an interlocked design.
According to the lawsuit’s background as reported by the Baylor Lariat, Boston began selling products featuring an interlocked “BU” in 2018, including merchandise and jerseys for branded club sports. Baylor contacted Boston in 2021, but the university continued using the design on school-sponsored and licensed products, the report said.
Livingstone said Baylor considers protection of its trademarks and brands important. Marketing professor Meredith David similarly told the Baylor Lariat that the schools’ marks had coexisted without confusion, but said Boston’s use of an interlocked version could lead consumers to mistake one university’s products for the other’s.
