The University of Oxford is seeking a High Court ban to stop companies that run summer schools from using the name Oxford in connection with its activities. 

The university, which dates back to 1096, believes it has suffered substantial damage as a result of the actions of two Oxford based companies – Oxford Programs and Oxford Royale Academy.

In papers filed at the court in London and just made publicly available, the university is seeking a High Court injunction forcing them to change their names so that they do not include the word Oxford in their titles.

READ MORE: Police 'close' house in Oxford due to 'drug activity'

Oxford Programs and Oxford Royale Academy run summer schools in Oxford, as well as Cambridge University, Imperial College London, Yale and Berkeley, and claim they offer students a taste of life at leading universities.

Their two-week long courses in Oxford, aimed at teenagers between 13 and 18, cost £5,995 and are in subjects as diverse as medicine, engineering, law, and architecture.

Guest speakers have included poet Andrew Motion, Sir Ranulph Fiennes, and politician William Hague.

There are also courses for adults, and the companies welcome international students.

The University of Oxford wants Oxford Programs to transfer the internet domains oxford-royale.com and oxford-royale.co.uk to them. 

It also wants legal declarations that the two companies have infringed or threaten to infringe four of its trademark registrations.

The University of Oxford is also seeking an inquiry into damages or an account of profits since May 2017, and an injunction banning the two companies from infringing trademarks, together with a court order forcing them to publish any court judgment won against them. 

The University of Oxford refused to comment on 'ongoing legal proceedings.'