
A prominent Christian university is suing Netflix and Warner Bros. Entertainment over a new basketball-themed series. The university argues that the show improperly uses the school’s name, team identity, and colors while promoting content that contradicts the university’s Christian values.
Pepperdine University, a well-known Christian institution in California, filed a federal lawsuit on Thursday, alleging trademark infringement over Netflix’s new series Running Point, starring Kate Hudson and co-created by Mindy Kaling.
The show features a basketball team called the “Waves,” wearing blue and orange uniforms—the exact name and color scheme used by Pepperdine’s athletic teams. The lawsuit also claims that Running Point references Pepperdine’s founding year, which is set in Los Angeles, where the university is located.
Pepperdine officials argue that the show’s mature content, which includes explicit language, discussions of drug use, and allusions to infidelity, misrepresents the university and its values.
“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’s 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.”
The university expressed concern that being associated with the show—rated TV-MA for mature audiences—could damage its reputation. “The university has … 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,” the school said in a statement.
According to the lawsuit, Pepperdine officials repeatedly attempted to resolve the issue with Netflix and Warner Bros. before filing the case. However, after receiving no satisfactory response, the university decided legal action was necessary.
As of now, neither Netflix nor Warner Bros. Entertainment has publicly responded to the lawsuit.