Image from USPTO Records, Trademark Registration No. 1,468,277
While the old saying tells us that “imitation is the highest form of flattery,” this sentiment is rarely shared when it comes to direct copies of a brand’s logo.
Such is the case with the interlocking B and U logo design adopted in recent years by Boston University. The administration and trustees of Baylor University, which has used the interlocking B and U design for more than 110 years, recently sued their northeast counterpart to stop the Boston Terriers from using the confusingly similar mark to sell its line of clothing and other sports-themed goods. Let’s take a closer look at the dispute and where the issue stands.
Who Used It First?
Baylor’s first use of the interlocking B and U design dates back to 1912, per its filings with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). While it was one of many logos used by the school for over a century, in early 2019, the university adopted the interlocking BU as shown above, as the “sole institutional mark” for its entire school, for both academic and sports uses. This consolidation of the school’s brand under a single logo mark was the kickoff of a new “tier 1” partnership with sports brand Nike, the “United: Baylor x Nike Experience.”
Baylor has at least six (6) different trademark registrations at the USPTO for essentially the same design mark shown above, for use with various lines of educational and sports-related products
What Did Boston University Do to Be Accused of Trademark Infringement by Baylor?
Boston University began selling similar merchandise with a nearly identical interlocking BU design in or around 2018, as shown in the following items (which were included in Baylor’s federal Complaint):
Image from Baylor University v. Trustees of Boston University, 6:25-cv-00352 (W.D. Tex.)
As you can see in this image, which is included in Baylor’s federal complaint against Boston University, the interlocking “BU” logo used by Boston is the same design, style, level and even font as that used by Baylor in its federally registered logo mark. When Baylor contacted Boston University and asked the school to stop using this design, the requests were ignored.
Where’s the Beef?
Baylor launched a lawsuit against Boston University in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, in August 2025. This lawsuit seeks to establish that Baylor is the senior rights holder to the interlocking “BU” design as shown and seeks an injunction against Boston University that prohibits the East Coast school’s use of the design.
While this may seem like a relatively recent issue, Baylor details in its lawsuit that it had previously entered into a Co-Existence Agreement with Boston University in the 1980’s regarding Boston University’s use of the “BU” initials. This timeline matches the time frame during which Baylor was applying for and obtaining its trademark registrations for the above-shown interlocking “BU” logo mark with the USPTO.
It is Baylor’s position that the present Boston University logo mark is a violation of that agreement.
What Can We Expect Next?
To date, Boston University has not commented on the litigation surrounding its use of the interlocking BU design. Given the fact that its online store’s “Apparel and Spirit Shop” still contains t-shirts, hats and other merchandise featuring the disputed mark, it seems unlikely that Boston University will “go away quietly.”
It is entirely possible that, while no public statements have been made, the parties are nonetheless engaged in behind-the-scenes negotiations to settle the present lawsuit. We can expect that any such settlement would be an “update” to the parties’ previous agreement from the 1980’s. In the meantime, the IP world watches and waits as the battle for the BU logo wages on.
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