Pepperdine University Sues Netflix and Warner Bros. Over Mindy Kaling’s Show

Pepperdine University is taking legal action against Netflix and Warner Bros. Discovery over Mindy Kaling’s new comedy series, “Running Point.” The show follows a party girl played by Kate Hudson who inherits her family’s NBA basketball team, the Waves.

The university claims that the show misappropriated its name and brand by using the same name as their own NCAA basketball team, the Waves. Pepperdine also points out that the show incorporates their team’s colors, orange and blue, as well as a fictional player wearing the number 37, which is significant to the university’s founding year of 1937.

Pepperdine believes that the portrayal of the Waves team in the show could lead to confusion among consumers and wrongly imply a connection between the university and the series. They are also concerned about the explicit content, substance use, nudity, and profanity featured in the show, which they feel goes against their Christian values.

Despite attempts to resolve the issue through email, phone calls, and a cease-and-desist letter, Netflix and Warner Bros. have not responded. Pepperdine has now taken the matter to the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, seeking injunctive relief to protect their trademarks and requesting monetary damages.

It’s important to note that Mindy Kaling, the creator of “Running Point,” is not a defendant in the lawsuit. Kaling, known for her work on “The Office” and “The Mindy Project,” has a successful track record of creating popular TV shows, including “Never Have I Ever” and “The Sex Lives of College Girls.”

“Running Point” is scheduled to debut on Netflix next week, but the legal battle between Pepperdine University and the entertainment giants adds an interesting twist to the show’s upcoming release. It will be fascinating to see how this legal dispute plays out in the courtroom.