NCAA in a Pickle(ball) Over NCPA's Name — A Tale of Unwarranted Concerns?

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has voiced concerns over the name of the newly formed National Collegiate Pickleball Association (NCPA), citing potential trademark infringement. The NCPA, founded by 22-year-old Noah Suemnick, aims to unify pickleball and college sports, planning its inaugural tournament in San Diego this March. The NCAA, which hasn't sanctioned pickleball as an official sport, fears the similarity between the acronyms could foster confusion and unfair competition.

Despite the NCAA's objections, Suemnick applied to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to register the "NATIONAL COLLEGIATE PICKLEBALL ASSOCIATION" for sports-related services. He intends to retain the name, highlighting that other organizations with names more similar to NCAA have registered with the USPTO without opposition. The NCAA insists on a name change to avoid legal complications, emphasizing the potential for infringement and dilution.

Law and media professor Alexandra Roberts suggests the NCAA's cease-and-desist letter is a strategic move to stay ahead of any USPTO decisions favoring the NCPA. She notes the central issue is whether the NCPA name could mislead consumers into associating it with the NCAA. Roberts believes the names are distinctive enough to avoid dilution of the NCAA's mark, casting doubt on the NCAA's infringement claim as the pickleball community watches the dispute unfold.