03/20/26 08:26:00
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03/20 20:24 CDT NCAA asks court to stop DraftKings from using trademarked terms
such as 'March Madness'
NCAA asks court to stop DraftKings from using trademarked terms such as 'March
Madness'
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) --- The NCAA filed a complaint in federal court Friday
seeking an emergency restraining order to stop online sportsbook DraftKings
from using registered trademarks associated with the NCAA men's and women's
basketball tournaments.
The complaint for trademark infringement was filed in the Southern District of
Indiana and requests that DraftKings stop using terms including "March
Madness," "Final Four," "Elite Eight" and "Sweet Sixteen" or variations of them
in sports betting products, promotional campaigns or marketing.
A message seeking comment was sent after business hours to DraftKings' general
media relations address.
The NCAA said in the complaint its trademarks are used to identify, brand,
advertise and distinguish the tournaments across broadcast media, digital
platforms, merchandise, sponsorships and licensed commercial activities.
"On the eve of the Tournaments, DraftKings deliberately adopted and prominently
began using the NCAA's iconic NCAA Basketball Marks, including confusingly
similar variations thereof, to trade on --- and usurp --- the immense goodwill,
recognition, and consumer trust embodied in those Marks at the precise moment
of peak public attention," the complaint said.
Screenshots of DraftKings wagering platforms were included in exhibits attached
to the complaint.
"DraftKings's unlawful use quickly proliferated across its consumer-facing
websites and mobile applications, embedding the marks and logos into betting
menus, promotional graphics, and marketing publications, to deliberately
exacerbate consumer confusion and reinforce a false association with or
sponsorship by the NCAA in order to continuously capitalize on the goodwill of
the NCAA," the complaint said.
The NCAA said it avoids any appearance of affiliation with gambling companies
and has declined sportsbook sponsorships, banned sports betting by athletes and
staff and publicly opposed prop bets and micro-bets. The NCAA noted it has
launched initiatives to prevent harassment and improper influence in college
sports and preserve the integrity of its competitions.
"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 statement.
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AP March Madness: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness
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