UH files suit over Houston law school name change

People line up outside the Cullen Performance Hall on the University of Houston campus Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015. People line up outside the Cullen Performance Hall on the University of Houston campus Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015. Photo: Dave Rossman, Freelance Photo: Dave Rossman, Freelance Image 1 of / 56 Caption Close UH files suit over Houston law school name change 1 / 56 Back to Gallery

The University of Houston is suing a 90-year-old downtown Houston law school that recently changed its name.

The suit filed in federal court claims that the newly renamed Houston College of Law - formerly South Texas College of Law - has "willfully" infringed upon UH's intellectual property.

"Through this name change and by adopting UH's color scheme, STCL is attempting to associate itself with the standing and reputation of the University of Houston System and the University of Houston Law Center," the lawsuit, filed on Monday, says.

Houston College of Law officials, who declined to comment Monday, have said they believe they were on firm legal ground in changing the name of the school, which they wanted to more closely associate with its longtime home.

"We made the decision to change the name of the 93-year-old law school based on overwhelming support to tie our institution with its birthplace in downtown Houston," the law school's board of directors said in a statement last week. "We believe that we are on firm legal ground with this name change, and that we are acting in the best interest of the law school and its students."

In a statement, UH officials said South Texas College of Law is not ranked among the nation's best by U.S. News. The UH Law Center, on the other hand, landed at No. 50 in the annual rankings.

"This is about protecting our reputation and our business," UH chairman Tilman Fertitta said in the statement. "We've earned our standing as a nationally ranked law center, and we won't allow someone else to change their name and colors and market themselves on our success."

Tony Buzbee, a prominent Houston attorney who represented former Gov. Rick Perry, is representing UH in the legal battle.

"The University of Houston Law Center's brand is associated nationwide with top-notch faculty and lawyers," Buzbee said in a statement. "UH didn't take shortcuts to achieve this recognition. We believe the attempted renaming of South Texas College of Law is nothing more than an improper shortcut to take advantage of the success UH has achieved."