A federal judge rejected the NCAA's attempt to stop DraftKings from using basketball tournament terms like 'March Madness' and 'Final Four.' The court found insufficient evidence that the sports betting company's use of these trademarked phrases causes irreparable damage to the NCAA.
INDIANAPOLIS — The NCAA suffered a legal setback Thursday when a federal court rejected their emergency request to prevent DraftKings from utilizing trademarked phrases connected to college basketball tournaments.
The lawsuit for trademark violation, submitted to the Southern District of Indiana court last week, sought to prohibit DraftKings from employing ‘March Madness,’ ‘Final Four,’ ‘Elite Eight,’ and ‘Sweet Sixteen,’ along with similar variations, in their marketing efforts.
Judge Tanya Walton Pratt determined the NCAA failed to demonstrate that the sports betting company’s usage of these phrases would result in irreparable damage.
‘With further discovery the NCAA may be able to show they are entitled to a preliminary or permanent injunction, and those claims remain pending,’ Pratt wrote.
In court documents filed Wednesday responding to the NCAA’s lawsuit, DraftKings argued they have utilized ‘March Madness’ and related terminology when referencing the NCAA Tournament for over five years and possess the legal authority to continue doing so.
The NCAA maintains it deliberately distances itself from any association with gambling activities and argued in their legal filing that DraftKings’ usage of the trademarked terms creates customer confusion by suggesting NCAA endorsement.
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