Netflix, Warner Bros sued by Pepperdine University over basketball comedy

Feb 20 - Pepperdine University sued Netflix (NFLX.O) and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD.O) on Thursday, claiming their upcoming comedy series about a Los Angeles pro basketball team called the Waves violates the school's trademarks.

Malibu, California-based Pepperdine, whose mascot is also the Waves, said in its complaint in Los Angeles federal court that the series, "Running Point," is likely to cause confusion among viewers.

Spokespeople for Netflix and Warner Bros. Discovery did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the complaint.

Pepperdine senior vice president Sean Burnett said in a statement that the lawsuit was necessary to address the "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."

"Running Point" stars Kate Hudson as a "reformed party girl" who is "unexpectedly placed in charge of her family's pro basketball team," according to the Netflix website. The series is set to premiere February 27.

Pepperdine's lawsuit said that the logo and blue-and-orange branding used for the show's Waves are "strikingly similar" to the Pepperdine Waves, who have played NCAA basketball in the Los Angeles area for over 85 years.

Pepperdine also said that the school and show's mascot both wear the number 37. Pepperdine's 37 represents 1937, the year the university was founded.

The lawsuit said that as a Christian university, Pepperdine would also be "irreparably harmed" by being associated with the show, whose trailer includes cursing and references to sex, alcohol and illegal drug use.

Pepperdine said that an attorney for Warner Bros. Discovery, which produced the show, denied the accusations in response to a cease-and-desist letter. The school asked the court for an order blocking Netflix and Warner Bros. from violating its trademarks and requested an unspecified amount of monetary damages.

The case is Pepperdine University v. Netflix Inc, U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, No. 2:25-cv-01429.