The owner of a rowing business has become embroiled in a bitter row with Cambridge University - after it claimed copyright over the name of the city.

Omar Terywall, owner of Cambridge Rowing Ltd, applied for a trademark for his business's logo back in January 2022 – but it was formally opposed by the University of Cambridge four months later.

His application has been left without a decision and he has now spoken out accusing the insitution of bullying.

The famous university, which dates back to 1209, holds a trademark on the word ‘Cambridge'.

But Omar said it was an unfair restriction as the city was 'more than just a university.'

He said: "To come after me, it was pretty terrifying. They see it as a threat."

"As far as they see it, when people say they went to Cambridge, they are saying they went to Cambridge University, and when people say they rowed in Cambridge, they're saying they rowed for a Cambridge college."

"That's not the case at all. There are six or seven town clubs, and I'm a member of the City of Cambridge Rowing Club, our records go back to 1844."

Omar, who only started rowing 10 years ago, says his business has helped more than 5,000 people take to the River Cam, breaking down the stigma that it's a ‘university only sport'.

His business has applied for trademarks in three classes – including class 25 for sports clothing, class 35 for merchandising, and class 41 for hospitality.

Cambridge University's Downing College already holds a trademark in class 25 for ‘Cambridge Rowing Tank', a £45 per hour indoor training facility with two 10-tonne pools of water, allowing rowers to work on their technique.

But Omar said the tactics used by the university were 'heavy-handed' and accused the university of ‘bullying' behaviour.

He said: "From the outset I had a number of people getting in touch with me from the university saying ‘Omar, you should drop the case, you've got a lovely little business going on there."

"‘There's a multi-billion-pound entity and they could crush you just like that'."

"But for me, I need to protect my brand."

"I've already had some companies abroad that have tried to replicate my brand and sell merchandise using my branding."

"Just like anybody that puts a trademark in, you do it to protect your brand, and that's exactly what I'm doing."

"We want to work with the university, we don't want to work against them."

"We aren't stepping on their toes in any way."

"I do offer merchandise – but nobody's going to buy a ‘Cambridge Rowing Experience' t-shirt, they want ‘Cambridge Rowing' – they want to say they've actually rowed in Cambridge."

"We're in no way impeding on what they do in any way, shape, or form."

"We make it very clear in all materials we post out that we're not affiliated with the university in any way."

A spokesperson for the University of Cambridge said: "The University is often subject to fraudulent actors misrepresenting their association to the University."

"We spend a lot of time supporting people who have been misled and are often in considerable distress."

"While we recognise this is not the intention in every case, we have to protect trademarks to prevent misuse."

"If there is no protection, fraudulent use would increase."

"We will always try to work constructively with others who want to use our trademark for legitimate reasons."