Baylor University and Boston University are working toward a settlement in a federal trademark lawsuit, but the case was not ready for dismissal in the latest court filing. Baylor must either submit an agreement ending the lawsuit or provide another settlement update by Oct. 9, 2026. The potential settlement’s terms have not been disclosed.
Baylor filed the case against Boston University’s trustees on Aug. 8, 2025, alleging trademark infringement, unfair competition and false designation of origin under the Trademark Act of 1946. Baylor President Linda Livingstone told baylorlariat.com that the universities were working toward a resolution. Baylor told the court Sept. 9 that it expected an update within two weeks, then reported Sept. 23 that more progress was needed.
Baylor has used its logo since 1912 and sought federal registration in 1987. Boston University initially challenged that application before the schools agreed both could use the letters “BU.” Boston historically displayed the letters side by side, while Baylor used an interlocked design. Boston began selling merchandise and club sports jerseys with interlocked letters in 2018.
Baylor contacted Boston in 2021, but the filing said Boston continued using the design on school-sponsored and licensed products. Livingstone said trademark and brand protection was important, though litigation was not Baylor’s original goal. Baylor marketing associate professor Meredith David said the logos had coexisted without confusion for years, but Boston’s design could cause consumers to mistake merchandise from one university for the other’s.
