Wed Feb 26 04:50:00 UTC 2025: **Pepperdine University Sues Netflix and Warner Bros. Over Sitcom’s Similar Branding**
MALIBU, CA—Pepperdine University, a Christian university affiliated with the Churches of Christ, has filed a lawsuit against Netflix and Warner Bros. for trademark infringement. The suit targets the new sitcom “Running Point,” which features a fictional Los Angeles basketball team with branding strikingly similar to Pepperdine’s “Waves” team.
The university alleges that the show’s fictional team shares the same name, colors (blue and orange), and even incorporates the year of Pepperdine’s founding (1937) into its branding. The lawsuit also claims the show’s logo bears a strong resemblance to Pepperdine’s.
Beyond the branding similarities, Pepperdine argues the show’s content—rated TV-MA for mature audiences and containing foul language, sexual content, and violence—directly contradicts the university’s Christian values and could harm its reputation and recruitment efforts. The university claims attempts to resolve the issue through communication with Netflix and Warner Bros. were unsuccessful.
Pepperdine seeks an injunction to prevent further use of its trademarks and any confusingly similar marks in “Running Point.” Netflix and Warner Bros. have yet to publicly comment on the lawsuit. The sitcom, created by Mindy Kaling and starring Kate Hudson, premiered on Netflix this week.
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