Rowing trademark row with Cambridge University

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When Omar Terywall launched his company, Cambridge Rowing Limited seemed the obvious name for it. The company runs the Cambridge Rowing Experience, which takes novice rowers on to the River Cam for a taste of the sport. However, the University of Cambridge has launched a legal objection to its trademark, which Terywall describes as "terrifying" and "bullying". He founded the firm in Cambridge, his home city, in 2021 and applied to register the name the following year. But the university lodged a formal objection a few months later, saying it had to "protect trademarks to prevent misuse". A hearing about the challenge was held in 2025 and a decision is expected in the first months of 2026 Ben Schofield picks up the story. (Picture credit: PA)