Check out my article published March 11, 2025 on the “IP Watchdog” legal news website!
This article discusses the early stages of Pepperdine University’s trademark infringement lawsuit against Netflix. Filed in February 2025 one week before the scheduled release of Netflix’s new series “Running Point,” the lawsuit concerns the series’ fictional basketball team, called the “Los Angeles Waves.” Pepperdine University, also based in Los Angeles, has called its real-life sports team the “Waves” since the 1930’s and owns multiple registered trademarks for the term.
On the eve of the series’ scheduled release, the court denied Pepperdine’s request for an emergency injunction blocking the release. The series debuted in late February and was Netflix’s #1 TV series for about two weeks post-premiere.
As the litigation continues, Netflix has announced plans to release a second season of “Running Point,” a comedy series loosely based on the story of Los Angeles Lakers owner Jeanie Buss. The success of Pepperdine’s trademark claims may ultimately hinge on whether the trademark use is entitled to First Amendment protection, as explained in my article.
READ FULL ARTICLE PUBLISHED ON IP WATCHDOG.
CITATION: Sara Gold, Pepperdine University Makes ‘Waves’ with Emergency Trademark Motion Against Netflix, IP Watchdog (Mar. 11, 2025, 7:15 AM), available at https://ipwatchdog.com/2025/03/11/pepperdine-university-makes-waves-emergency-trademark-motion-netflix/id=186974/