University of Bolton’s proposed name change triggers legal

Neighbouring institutions submit more than 100 legal challenges against use of Greater Manchester trademarks

A bitter legal dispute has broken out between universities in the north-west of England over Bolton’s efforts to rename itself as the University of Greater Manchester despite the objections of its regional rivals.

The dispute has led to Bolton’s vice-chancellor accusing three other universities in the region – including the University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University, two of the UK’s largest universities – of acting as a “cartel”.