Trending Now - Judge Rejects Ncaa's Bid to Halt Draftkings' 'march Madness' Use
WHO:
NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association)
DraftKings, Inc.
A federal judge (name not specified)
WHAT:
The NCAA filed a complaint for trademark infringement in the Southern District of Indiana on March 19th, 2026.
The terms in question include "March Madness," "Final Four," "Elite Eight," and "Sweet Sixteen."
Judge Tanya Walton Pratt stated that the NCAA did not demonstrate how DraftKings' use of the terms would cause irreparable harm.
DraftKings has been using "March Madness" and other terms for over five years and claims legal rights to do so.
DraftKings described the terms as "the universally recognized names for the tournaments and their rounds, used by millions of college basketball fans, journalists, and participants in the sports-betting ecosystem."
The NCAA stated that DraftKings' unauthorized use of its trademarks contradicts its institutional values regarding sports betting and NCAA championships.
The NCAA's motion for a temporary restraining order was denied.
The restraining order aimed to stop DraftKings from using registered trademarks associated with the NCAA's men’s and women’s basketball tournaments.
WHERE:
The ruling was made in a federal court (specific location not provided).
WHEN:
The ruling occurred on Thursday, March 26th, 2026.
WHY:
The NCAA sought the restraining order to protect its trademarks during the basketball tournaments.
HOW:
DraftKings argued that their use of the terms is protected under the First Amendment.
The federal judge reviewed the NCAA's request and made a decision to deny it.
(UPDATED March 27, 2026 15:16 UTC)
The NCAA filed a complaint for trademark infringement in the Southern District of Indiana on March 19, 2026, targeting terms like "March Madness," "Final Four," "Elite Eight," and "Sweet Sixteen." Judge Tanya Walton Pratt ruled that the NCAA did not prove that DraftKings' use of these terms would cause irreparable harm, despite the NCAA's claims that it contradicts its values regarding sports betting. DraftKings has been using these terms for over five years and argues that their usage is protected under the First Amendment, describing them as universally recognized names in the college basketball community.
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(UPDATED March 27, 2026 11:16 UTC)
A federal judge denied the NCAA's motion for a temporary restraining order on Thursday, March 26, 2026, which aimed to prevent DraftKings from using trademarks associated with the NCAA's men’s and women’s basketball tournaments. The ruling was made in a federal court, and the NCAA sought the restraining order to protect its trademarks during the ongoing basketball tournaments. This decision allows DraftKings to continue its operations without the restrictions the NCAA was hoping to impose.