Law school in trademark fight will change its name again Houston College of Law was sued by the University of Houston

A billboard advertising Houston College of Law, formerly South Texas College of Law, is seen near U.S. 59 southbound and Caroline Street. The school, which has agreed to change its name, will soon have its billboards taken down. less A billboard advertising Houston College of Law, formerly South Texas College of Law, is seen near U.S. 59 southbound and Caroline Street. The school, which has agreed to change its name, will soon have its ... more Photo: Yi-Chin Lee, Chronicle Photo: Yi-Chin Lee, Chronicle Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Law school in trademark fight will change its name again 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

By the end of 2016, the private law school in downtown Houston will have yet another new name, attorneys said on Wednesday.

Houston College of Law, formerly known as South Texas College of Law, has agreed to change its name one more time in the next two weeks to avoid going to trial in a federal trademark lawsuit brought by the University of Houston, which said the new name and red-and-white color scheme was confusing to consumers.

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Lynne Liberato, one of the lawyers for the school with a soon-to-be-announced name, said the college has taken down a banner on campus, removed merchandise from its store and plans to have several billboards taken down, possibly as soon as this week.

The school's legal team agreed during a hearing on Wednesday to share its new name — which will honor a benefactor and include the word "Houston" at the end — by Nov. 4.

If UH officials see no conflict, the new name will begin to be implemented, and that process must finish by the year's end, the attorneys agreed.

U.S. District Judge Keith Ellison commended the college on its good-faith effort to implement an injunction on the name, which he ruled earlier this month could be confusing to people who were unfamiliar with it.

"We're thrilled that they're going to have a new name for us on Nov. 4," said Dona Cornell, an attorney for UH.