Pepperdine University announced a trademark infringement on Thursday against Netflix and Warner Bros. regarding the upcoming Mindy Kaling-produced show Running Point. The university claims that the show misappropriates its brand with a logo for a fictional Los Angeles-based basketball team called The Waves. Although Kaling is not named as a defendant in the lawsuit, the school highlights that the logo bears a striking resemblance to Pepperdine’s well-known Waves athletics program, featuring a team name, colors, and other elements that are either identical or highly similar. Notably, the number ’37’ is also associated with the university’s history and mascot.
In a statement, the Christian university located in Malibu expressed “deep concerns about some of the series’ themes, such as explicit content, substance use, nudity, and profanity—elements that conflict with Pepperdine’s Christian values and reputation.” The university claims it has made multiple attempts to resolve the issue amicably, but Netflix and Warner Bros. “have refused to take any remediating action.”
Running Point, created by Kaling, Ike Barinholtz, and David Stassen, stars Kate Hudson as Isla Gordon, who is appointed the new president of the Los Angeles Waves, a professional basketball team owned by her family.
The show is set to premiere on Netflix on Feb. 27.
