NCAA sues DraftKings for trademark infringement related to March Madness phrases
The NCAA has sued DraftKings for alleged trademark infringement, the association announced Friday. In a press release, the NCAA cited unauthorized used of trademarks related to March Madness. The NCAA is seeking a temporary restraining order against DraftKings to stop the company from using multiple federally registered trademarks or any variation for sports betting products, […]
The NCAA has sued DraftKings for alleged trademark infringement, the association announced Friday . In a press release, the NCAA cited unauthorized used of trademarks related to March Madness. The NCAA is seeking a temporary restraining order against DraftKings to stop the company from using multiple federally registered trademarks or any variation for sports betting products, promotional campaigns or marketing activities.
Those phrases include “March Madness,” “Final Four,” “Elite Eight” and “Sweet Sixteen. ” In a statement Friday, the NCAA said use of such trademarks goes against one of the association’s core values about separating sports betting from NCAA championships. It also cited protection of athletes as a reason for filing the suit.
“The NCAA makes clear in the complaint and its motion that every day that DraftKings continues to use these marks, millions of sports fans – and, critically, college students and young adults who are particularly susceptible to gambling harm – are exposed to the false suggestion that the Association has authorized or endorsed DraftKings’ gambling platform,” the NCAA said in a press release. “This causes confusion among NCAA members and student-athletes that the Association is involved with and/or endorsing sports betting, which is in direct contradiction to its robust education, integrity monitoring, anti-harassment and advocacy efforts to end risky prop bets. “The NCAA does not have any commercial relationships with any sportsbooks of any kind and continues to uphold a strict prohibition on advertising and sponsorships associated with betting.
The NCAA says filing this complaint is a crucial step in furthering its mission to protect the integrity of competition and student-athlete well-being from the harms of sports betting. ” Sports betting has been a key area of focus for the NCAA and president Charlie Baker . He has been leading an attempt to ban prop bets on college games, including football and basketball.