Baylor University and Boston University could resolve their federal trademark lawsuit by Oct. 9, 2026. A court filing says Baylor will either submit a dismissal agreement or issue another settlement update by that date. The filing from Sept. 23 said the case was not yet ready for dismissal, and the potential settlement’s terms were not disclosed.
Baylor filed the lawsuit against Boston University’s trustees on Aug. 8, 2025. The case alleges violations involving trademarks, unfair competition and false designation of origin under the Trademark Act of 1946. Baylor notified the court on Sept. 9 that it expected to report on the matter within two weeks. Baylor President Linda Livingstone said the universities are working toward a resolution.
Baylor has used its logo since 1912 and applied for federal trademark registration in 1987. Boston University initially objected to that application, but the schools later agreed both could use the letters “BU.” Boston traditionally placed the letters side by side, while Baylor used an interlocking version. Boston began selling merchandise and club sports jerseys with interlocked letters in 2018.
Baylor contacted Boston in 2021, and the source said Boston kept using the design on products connected to the school and its licensing program. Livingstone said trademark and brand protection mattered to Baylor, while marketing professor Meredith David said Boston’s design could cause consumers to confuse merchandise from the two schools.