Baylor University and Boston University could resolve their federal trademark dispute by reaching an agreement before an Oct. 9, 2026, court deadline. The latest filing says Baylor will either submit dismissal papers or provide another settlement update by then. The terms of any agreement have not been released.
Baylor filed the lawsuit Aug. 8, 2025, against Boston University’s trustees, asserting trademark infringement, unfair competition and false designation of origin under the Trademark Act of 1946. Baylor notified the court Sept. 9 that it expected to report progress within two weeks. In a Sept. 23 filing, however, the university said the case could not yet be dismissed despite substantial progress by both sides.
Baylor President Linda Livingstone told baylorlariat.com that the universities were working toward a resolution. Baylor has used its logo since 1912 and pursued federal registration in 1987. Boston University first objected to that application, according to the source, before the schools agreed both could use “BU.” Boston traditionally placed the letters side by side, while Baylor used an interlocked version.
Boston began selling products with interlocked letters in 2018, and Baylor raised the issue in 2021, but the design continued on Boston-sponsored and licensed items. Baylor said trademark protection was important, though litigation was not its initial aim. Marketing professor Meredith David said the newer design could cause shoppers to confuse merchandise from the two schools.