Two Ohio universities have agreed on the use of a four-letter word.Within a few days the official agreement between Ohio University and Ohio State over the use of the name “Ohio” will be available. Virginia Tretheway, vice president for legal affairs, confirmed that a deal was worked out between the two schools earlier this week.”It is accurate that the Ohio State University and Ohio University have agreed to settle the trademark dispute,” Tretheway said. “Attorneys for both universities are working on the exact terms of the agreement and when it’s completed there will be a joint press release available.”The claim to the word, “Ohio,” has been at the center of dispute between Ohio University and OSU the last two years. In 1995 “Ohio” became the official trademark of the Bobcats. Realizing they could lose money and name rights, OSU filed a complaint with the trademark office in December 1997 to cancel OU’s right to the trademark.On Wednesday, President William “Brit” Kirwan accepted a deal from OU President Robert Glidden that allows OU to keep Ohio as their trademark and OSU to use Ohio when it has historical significance such as Script Ohio and the Ohio Stadium. OSU has licensed trademarks for “Ohio State,” “OSU,” and “Buckeyes.”Other schools like Michigan State University and the University of Michigan have separate name trademarks, said Beth Thelem, administrative assistant at Michigan State. “I have worked in the administrative office for 10 years and have never heard of a dispute between Michigan State and the University of Michigan over the use of the name Michigan,” she said.If the dispute between OSU and Ohio University had gone to the U.S. Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, it could have cost both universities hundreds of thousands of dollars.