Harvard versus notHarvard

Harvard is suing for damages over the use of its name

A legal battle has begun over the rights to the name of one of the most prestigious universities in the United States.

notHarvard, an online education service founded last year, has filed a lawsuit asserting that its adopted name is not infringing any rights of Harvard University.

But the Massachusetts university, founded in 1636, has counter-filed, with a claim for $75,000 for trademark violations.

The Texas-based notHarvard, an "educommerce" company which offers online courses, rejects that it is taking an unfair advantage of the university's name.

"In no way does our name intend to convey an association with Harvard University. In fact, it is the intent of notHarvard.com - by using the word 'not' - not to be associated with Harvard University," says a statement on the company's internet site.

However the university, which has a record of carefully guarding how its name is used, remains unconvinced by notHarvard's disclaimers.

"You can imagine if there was a hamburger company out there that said we're going to call ourselves 'Not-McDonald's,' they might hear from McDonald's,'' said Harvard spokesman, Joe Wrinn.

As such the university is seeking damages from the online company, which it claims is using the Harvard name as a marketing tool.

"We take very seriously educational institutions that trade on the Harvard name, and, in this case, use it for marketing purposes," said Mr Wrinn.