NCAA denied temporary restraining order against DraftKings in trademark infringement case
The NCAA was denied a temporary restraining order (TRO) on Tuesday morning in its ongoing trademark infringement case against DraftKings using its NCAA Tournament-related phrases. With Tuesday’s TRO ruling, DraftKings is allowed to continue utilizing NCAA-trademarked phrases such as “March Madness,” “Elite Eight” and “Final Four” in its sports gambling operations. The NCAA announced its lawsuit against DraftKings last wedk in an effort to halt the company from using several of its federally-registered March Madness-related trademarks or any variation of them for its sports betting products, promotional campaigns or marketing activities.
It is the first formal legal action taken by the NCAA against popular sports betting companies or prediction markets such as Kalshi. SUBSCRIBE to the On3 NIL and Sports Business Newsletter In the ruling, Judge Tanya W. Pratt of the U.
S. District Court of the Southern District of Indiana wrote that the NCAA has not yet shown the likelihood of irreparable harm. As a result, the TRO was denied.
BREAKING: The NCAA's motion for a temporary restraining order that would bar Draftkings from using March Madness-related trademarks has been DENIED. The court found while the NCAA is likely to succeed, they have not yet shown the likelihood of irreparable harm needed for a TRO. pic.
twitter. com/Vtl0PO2K5L — Sam C. Ehrlich (@samcehrlich) March 26, 2026 “The NCAA has made the requisite showing that three of the four elements necessary for a TRO exists, but given the exacting standard required for a temporary restraining order, they have not shown irreparable harm,” the order reads.