The first episode of HBO's Winning Time, based on the Los Angeles Lakers, dynasty headlined by Magic Johnson, was released on Sunday night. However, there has been major blowback already, specifically on the portrayal of Jerry West. Aside from many fans voicing their displeasure, the NBA is now also furious.
Per The Athletic, the league is upset over the show using team logos and other trademarks without permission, although the Lakers organization itself had nothing to do with it:
The show apparently has rubbed the NBA the wrong way, at least in part because it said HBO didn’t get permission to use the league and team trademarks, such as team logos. The NBA acknowledged its displeasure with the series in a brief statement on Tuesday: “Clearances to use NBA trademarks were not sought or granted and the league objects to any unauthorized use of its intellectual property,” said Mike Bass, the league’s chief communications officer and an executive vice president, in an emailed statement.
The NBA declined to comment further. The Lakers had only this to say: “The Lakers have no comment as we are not supporting nor involved with this project.”
And according to one attorney in NYC, the NBA could have a legitimate case against HBO and the creators of the show:
“To put it bluntly, the NBA is within their right to enforce their trademark rights here,” said Anthony Iliakostas, an IP attorney who teaches at New York Law School. “They are the sole organization that owns the rights to all trademarks associated with their 30 member teams. When any organization or individual registers a trademark with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, they are putting the world on notice that the word, phrase, logo design that they’re registering is their exclusive brand identity and nobody else’s.
Certainly not a good look for HBO or the new 10-part series. The Lakers have nothing to worry about in this regard but there are clearly numerous inaccurate scenes in the show and it's only been one episode.
Interesting, to say the least.
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