Pepperdine vs. Netflix: A Trademark Showdown Over "Running Point" Author: Sara Gold Full Article: https://ipwatchdog.com/2025/03/11/pepperdine-university-makes-waves-emergency-trademark-motion-netflix/id=186974/ A big legal battle is happening between Pepperdine University and Netflix over a new TV show called Running Point. The university says that the show uses its sports team’s name, “Waves,” without permission, making it seem like Pepperdine is connected to the show. But Netflix says it’s just a made-up name for a fictional team. What’s Going On? Pepperdine University, a well-known school in California, has had the sports team name "Waves" since 1937. But in Running Point, a Netflix show about a woman running a Los Angeles basketball team, the team is also called the "Los Angeles Waves." Pepperdine wasn’t happy about this. They went to court and asked a judge to stop the show from being released. They claimed that the name could confuse people into thinking the university was involved, which could hurt its reputation—especially because the show includes themes of sex, drugs, and alcohol, which don’t align with the university’s values. What Did the Court Say? The judge denied Pepperdine’s request, meaning Running Point was allowed to premiere on Netflix on February 27. The court used a legal rule called the "Rogers test," which protects creative works like movies and TV shows from most trademark claims unless they clearly mislead people about who made or endorsed them. Since Netflix made it clear that the show wasn’t connected to Pepperdine, the judge ruled against the university. Why It Matters for Inventors This case is a perfect example of why trademark protection is important for inventors and businesses. Just like Pepperdine wants to protect its name, inventors need to make sure their brand names, logos, and product names are legally secure. Otherwise, a big company could use something similar, and you might not be able to stop them! Here are some key takeaways for inventors: - Register Your Trademarks Early: This gives you legal proof that the name or logo belongs to you. - Watch for Confusingly Similar Names: If someone else starts using a name close to yours, you may need to act fast to protect your brand. - Understand Trademark Laws: If your invention appears in a TV show, movie, or book, you might have a harder time proving infringement due to creative protections like the Rogers test. Even though Pepperdine lost this round, the fight isn’t over. They can still try to prove in court that Running Point makes people wrongly believe the school supports the show. For now, the legal battle continues! For more on this case and why it matters, check out the full article (link attached)

Posted by InventorNews at 2025-03-12 15:00:30 UTC