In the latest battle in the Harvard's trademark war, the University has filed suit against Harvard Bioscience, a medical equipment company that has had "Harvard" in its name for 100 years.

The trademark infringement suit, filed on Dec. 26, claims that Harvard Bioscience's name implies a connection to the University and Harvard Medical School.

"The way they use the name Harvard...looks very much like the Harvard Medical School website in its tone and texture," said University spokesperson Joseph Wrinn. "This new use of Harvard that has us very concerned."

The University has asked for a preliminary injunction to stop Harvard Biosciences from using the name while the case is tried. A hearing on the issue will be held in February.

The company, which was known as Harvard Apparatus until last October, emphatically denies that its company could be mistaken for an arm of the University.

"I'm willing to bet that no one has ever called [Harvard Bioscience] to register for a class, and no one has ever called [Harvard University] to buy a pump," said Frank Levy, an attorney for Harvard Bioscience.

University officials said their trademark concerns center exclusively around the new name, Harvard Bioscience.

"If they kept Harvard Apparatus or Harvard Pump Company or Harvard Equipment Company, that...does not confuse the public," said Joel R. Leeman, an attorney working for the University. "But once it switches to Harvard Bioscience, it sounds like an arm of Harvard University."