In a significant legal decision, U.S. District Judge Cynthia Valenzuela has allowed Netflix to proceed with the release of its new basketball comedy series, “Running Point,” despite a trademark lawsuit filed by Pepperdine University.
The show, created by Mindy Kaling and starring Kate Hudson, premiered on Thursday as scheduled.
“Running Point” follows the story of a reformed party girl who unexpectedly takes charge of her family’s professional basketball team, the Los Angeles Waves.
Pepperdine University had sought a temporary restraining order, alleging that the show’s branding and team name were too similar to its own NCAA basketball team, also called the Waves.
However, Judge Valenzuela ruled that the show’s use of “Waves” is protected under the First Amendment, as it is artistically relevant and does not mislead viewers into believing there is an affiliation with Pepperdine.
In her decision, Judge Valenzuela noted that the show’s “Waves” is more akin to a nod to the Los Angeles Lakers and the broader Southern California culture, evoking images of beaches and surfing. She concluded that there was no implicit or explicit statement suggesting a connection between Pepperdine and the series.
Netflix and Warner Bros. have maintained that their use of “Waves” is constitutionally protected, emphasizing that it does not confuse viewers about any potential affiliation with Pepperdine. Despite this ruling, Pepperdine remains confident that it will ultimately prevail in preventing unauthorized use of its intellectual property.
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