In what may be its first trademark battle in foreign courts, the University is suing a Canadian company for illegally using the Harvard name.

Frank J. Connors, an attorney in the office of Harvard's general counsel, said he expects the case, still in its pretrial stages, to proceed to a conclusion in court.

He added that the University will not drop the charges until the Quebec-based Harvard Negotiations International, Inc. (HNI) removes the word "Harvard" from its name.

The case will be heard in a Canadian federal court. The University is not demanding a cash settlement.

"The only settlement we would accept is that they stop using the name Harvard," Connors said.

HNI, which is completely unaffiliated with the University, trains people to resolve disputes through negotiation or similar means.

Both Connors and Enrique J. Calixto, Harvard's trademark programs administrator, claim the company falsely attracts customers using Harvard's reputation, demeaning the educational objectives of the University in the process.

The Program on Negotiations at Harvard Law School (HLS), officially recognized by the University in 1983, also offers programs very similar to HNI.

This large research center develops teaching material, publishes journals and books and sponsors training programs, courses and symposia-all about negotiating and other forms of solving disputes.

"[HNI] is clearly conflicting with an ongoing operation of Harvard," Connors said, citing "incidents of people who were confused" about the relationship between HNI and the University.

However, J. William Breslin, executive editor of the Negotiation Journal at the HLS program, said he does not think HNI has taken business from his project.

Calixto said Harvard first learned about thecompany last year when some-one called theUniversity wondering if HNI was an affiliate.

Calixto's office immediately took action.

"We sent them a letter demanding that they stopusing the name," Connors said. "That didn't getvery far."

Several months ago, the University made thedecision to sue.

Calixto said this is the standard procedure fortrademark infringements.