Baylor files lawsuit against Boston University over ‘BU’ logo

Local News

Baylor University sued the Trustees of Boston University Friday over its use of the interlocked “BU” logo, according to court documents.

There’s not enough room for two “BUs,” at least according to a lawsuit one university filed against the other.

Baylor University sued the Trustees of Boston University in the U.S. District Court in Texas on Friday over its use of the interlocked “BU” logo, court documents show.

The lawsuit alleges trademark infringement, unfair competition, and false designation of origin, according to the university’s complaint.

Baylor, a private Christian university in Texas, said it objects to Boston University using the interlocking BU design, which is “essentially identical and/or confusingly similar to Baylor’s federally registered marks,” it says in the complaint.  

The interlocked logo, which Baylor has used since 1912, is one of the university’s “oldest and most enduring” symbols, the school writes on its website, and appears on most of its merchandise. 

“As a result of Baylor’s long and extensive use of the Interlocking BU, Baylor has developed an enormous amount of goodwill, public recognition, and strong rights in those marks,” the complaint reads.

Boston University uses the logo on a smaller scale, and it can be seen relating to club sports and on some merchandise. 

Boston University did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Baylor referred to the complaint and declined to comment. 

Baylor owns numerous trademarks of the interlocked BU logo, with some dating back to 1987, according to court filings. 

The two universities entered an agreement regarding the respective uses of the BU initials in 1988, which stated that the universities must coexist by using the initials for their respective universities, according to the complaint.

Baylor noted that Boston University typically uses a logo that features the B and U letters side by side, which the Texas university does not oppose and does not defy the schools’ agreement. 

Baylor said it became aware of the issue after Boston University released its BU Campus Store Spirit Shop in 2018, which allegedly included the interlocked BU logo in three hat sales. 

The Texas university said it asked Boston University in 2018 and 2021 to cease using the interlocked logo, but Boston University refused. 

According to the complaint, Baylor attempted to resolve the discourse before filing a lawsuit, but Boston University declined to stop using the logo, and then expanded its use of it.

Baylor asked the court for financial compensation of the costs of the lawsuit with prejudgment and post-judgment interest. 

The Texas university requested the court to order Boston University to “destroy” all materials — including all goods, packaging, signage, advertisements, internet postings, and advertisement  — using an interlocked BU logo. 

Baylor finally requested Boston University submit a report within 30 days of an injunction regarding how it “complied with the injunction.”