Pepperdine files trademark lawsuit against Netflix
An upcoming Netflix series infringes on trademarks and branding for Pepperdine University and its basketball program, the university alleges in a federal lawsuit.
The fictional basketball team of “Running Point” features the same name, Waves, and other elements similar to that of Pepperdine, a Malibu, Calif.-based institution associated with Churches of Christ.
The basketball court in “Running Point” features the Waves logo.
A trophy wall features Pepperdine University’s Waves logo.
“Without our permission, Netflix continues to promote Running Point, a new series that has misappropriated our trademarked name, the Waves, our colors, blue and orange, our hometown of Los Angeles, and even the year we were founded as an institution,” Pepperdine said in a statement. “Given this flagrant disregard for our intellectual property and the damage to our institutional identity, together with Netflix’s and Warner Bros.’ continued refusal to resolve Pepperdine’s concerns, we believe it necessary to seek court intervention.”
The university added that it had tried and failed to resolve the dispute privately with the media companies.
The complaint, filed last week in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, outlines concerns that the Netflix show will cause confusion between the fictional and real teams and portray a false affiliation with Pepperdine.
The university believes such an association would be damaging, given “elements that are inconsistent with Pepperdine’s Christian values and reputation,” including explicit content, substance use, nudity and profanity. The show, created by Mindy Kaling and starring Kate Hudson, carries a TV-MA rating.
A player in the “Running Point” series wears a Waves jersey.
The Pepperdine University Step Team wears jerseys featuring the team’s signature No. 37.
Netflix and Warner Brothers have not publicly responded to the complaint, news outlets have reported.
Read the full lawsuit here.
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