Pepperdine University has filed a lawsuit against Netflix and Warner Bros. Discovery over Mindy Kaling’s upcoming show “Running Point,” alleging trademark infringement regarding its basketball team.
Sean Burnett, Pepperdine University senior vice president and chief marketing officer, says “Running Point,” which is set to debut next week, “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.”
The Thursday filing is looking for injunctive relief and damages.
“Running Point” stars actress Kate Hudson as a Los Angeles party girl who inherits an NBA team called the Waves.
The school argues the team “bears a striking resemblance in branding to Pepperdine’s longstanding and well-known Waves athletics program” and that the show’s team name, colors and other aspects are too similar to its program.
Along with the names and colors, the school alleges the show is promoting the number 37, which is specifically associated with Pepperdine’s history and mascot.
“Since its founding in 1937, Pepperdine University has established itself as a Christian University committed to academic excellence and a world-class athletics program,” said Burnett, adding the show did not get permission from the school.
“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,” he added.
The school said it has reached out to Netflix to try to solve this issue out of court, but the company refused to take any action.
The Hill has reached out to Netflix and Warner Bros. Discovery for comment.
