Pepperdine University filed a lawsuit Thursday against Netflix, Inc. and Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. for trademark infringement and related causes of action resulting from their unauthorized uses of Pepperdine’s trademarks and branding in the upcoming series Running Point, currently scheduled to be released on February 27, 2025.
The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, seeks injunctive relief to prevent further use of Pepperdine’s trademarks, as well as damages for the infringement and harm caused by the misappropriation of the university’s brand.
“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 Sean Burnett, Pepperdine University senior vice president and chief marketing officer. “Without our permission, Netflix continues to promote Running Point, a new series that has 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. 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.”
Running Point features a purportedly fictional Los Angeles-based basketball team called the “Waves” that bears a striking resemblance in branding to Pepperdine’s longstanding and well-known Waves athletics program. The series prominently features a team name, colors, and other indicia that are identical or highly similar to Pepperdine’s, as well as the number “37,” which is closely associated with the university’s history and mascot.
The lawsuit details how Running Point’s portrayal of the “Waves” team will cause consumer confusion and falsely suggest an affiliation between Pepperdine and the show. The university has also expressed deep concerns about some of the series’ themes, which include explicit content, substance use, nudity, and profanity—elements that are inconsistent with Pepperdine’s Christian values and reputation.
Pepperdine told Netflix and Warner Bros. that it wishes to have no affiliation with the show and these themes, but to date they have refused to take any remediating action. The lawsuit follows multiple attempts by the university to resolve these issues amicably through outreach to Netflix and Warner Bros., to no avail.
The complaint is available here.
About Pepperdine University
Pepperdine University is a private Christian university located 30 miles west of Downtown Los Angeles in Malibu, California. Rooted in the Christian tradition, Pepperdine is committed to both the relentless pursuit of truth through academic and scholarly excellence and to embodying Christian faith and values. With students at the heart of the educational enterprise, the University prepares approximately 9,500 scholars for lives of purpose, service, and leadership across its flagship liberal arts school, Seaver College, and four graduate schools - the Caruso School of Law, the Graziadio Business School, the Graduate School of Education and Psychology, and the School of Public Policy. Pepperdine is committed to the highest standards of academic excellence and Christian values, where students are strengthened for lives of purpose, service, and leadership. Follow Pepperdine on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.