Netflix and Warner Bros. Discovery’s new basketball comedy series Running Point premiered on Thursday, after a California judge declined to block its release over trademark claims brought by Pepperdine University.
U.S. District Judge Cynthia Valenzuela rejected Pepperdine’s request for a temporary restraining order late Wednesday, ruling that the show’s use of the name “Waves” for its fictional basketball team was protected by the First Amendment.
In a statement on Wednesday, Pepperdine said it remains confident that it will “ultimately prevail and prevent the continued unauthorized use of Pepperdine’s intellectual property in a way that misrepresents our institution.”
Running Point, created by Mindy Kaling, stars Kate Hudson as a “reformed party girl” who unexpectedly takes control of her family’s professional basketball team, according to Netflix’s website. Pepperdine, which is based in Malibu, California, filed suit against Netflix last week, claiming the show’s Los Angeles Waves team bore an uncanny resemblance to Pepperdine’s own Waves basketball team.
The lawsuit specifically pointed to the fictional team’s logo and its blue-and-orange color scheme, calling them “strikingly similar” to the branding used by the Pepperdine Waves, who have played NCAA basketball in the Los Angeles area for over 85 years.
Netflix and Warner Bros. have denied Pepperdine’s claims. In a court filing on Monday, the companies argued that the use of “Waves” was artistically relevant to the series and was constitutionally protected under the First Amendment. They also contended that the show does not explicitly mislead viewers into thinking the university is involved.
On Thursday, a Netflix spokesperson referred to the court filing when asked for comment.
Judge Valenzuela sided with Netflix and Warner Bros., noting that the “Waves” name was intended as a creative reference to the real-life Los Angeles Lakers and evoked Southern California’s surf culture, beaches, and relaxed atmosphere.
The judge also concluded that nothing in the show — either implicitly or explicitly — would lead consumers to believe Pepperdine was affiliated with the series.
Case Information:
Pepperdine University v. Netflix Inc., U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, No. 2:25-cv-01429.