A federal court filing from Baylor University sets Oct. 9, 2026, as the next deadline in its trademark dispute with Boston University. Baylor will either submit paperwork ending the case or report further progress on settlement talks by that date. The filing said the lawsuit was not yet ready for dismissal, despite substantial movement toward an agreement. The proposed settlement terms have not been released.
Baylor filed the lawsuit Aug. 8, 2025, against Boston University’s trustees. The university alleged violations involving trademarks, competition and the origin of goods under the Trademark Act of 1946. Baylor President Linda Livingstone said the schools are cooperating on a resolution. Baylor previously told the court it expected to provide a status report within two weeks, but that filing did not result in a dismissal.
Baylor has used its interlocking logo since 1912 and applied for federal trademark protection in 1987. The universities previously agreed both could use the letters "BU" after Boston challenged Baylor’s registration application. Boston traditionally displayed the letters side by side, but began selling merchandise and club sports jerseys with interlocked letters in 2018.
Baylor contacted Boston in 2021, and the lawsuit followed after Boston kept using the design on products connected to the school and products sold under license.
