Federal Judge Denies NCAA's Bid to Stop DraftKings' Use of 'March Madness'

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A federal judge in Indiana has denied the NCAA's request for a temporary restraining order to stop DraftKings from using trademarked terms like 'March Madness' and 'Final Four' to promote its online sports betting platform. The NCAA had filed a complaint last week alleging trademark infringement, but the judge ruled the NCAA failed to show how DraftKings' use of the terms would cause irreparable harm.

Why it matters

The NCAA has long sought to distance itself from sports betting, but the judge's decision allows DraftKings to continue leveraging the popularity of the NCAA basketball tournaments to attract customers. This raises questions about the NCAA's ability to control the use of its intellectual property as the sports betting industry continues to grow.

The details

The NCAA filed a complaint last week in the Southern District of Indiana, requesting a temporary restraining order to stop DraftKings from using 'March Madness,' 'Final Four,' 'Elite Eight' and 'Sweet Sixteen' in its marketing. However, Judge Tanya Walton Pratt ruled that the NCAA did not demonstrate how DraftKings' use of the terms would cause irreparable harm. DraftKings has been using the trademarked terms for over five years and argued it has the legal right to do so.

• The NCAA filed the complaint for trademark infringement last week.
• The federal judge denied the NCAA's request for a temporary restraining order on Thursday, March 27, 2026.

What’s next

The NCAA's trademark infringement claims against DraftKings remain pending, and the court indicated the NCAA may be able to obtain a preliminary or permanent injunction with further evidence.