Uh-oh, looks like Frank Underwood might have gotten into a jam.
“House of Cards” production company MRC has been slapped with a lawsuit over a line of slot machines branded after the Netflix drama.
In the suit, D2 Holdings claims that it owns the trademark for “House of Cards” in word form, and licenses the phrase for a gaming-centric radio show of the same name.
D2 is taking issue with the slot games “House of Cards Power and Money” and “House of Cards Welcome to Washington,” which it says “are slated for placement in casinos in the first quarter of 2016.”
The suit claims that MRC has made multiple unsuccessful attempts to trademark the phrase “House of Cards” but, despite not holding rights to the mark, “has also purportedly licensed, without the consent of D2, the House of Cards mark for merchandise such as tee shirts and hats.”
“Defendants’ unauthorized use of the House of Cards mark makes it highly likely, if not inevitable, that members of the trade and general public will be confused and assume, incorrectly, that the House of Cards mark is owned by MRC, or that there is an affiliation with D2, or that Plaintiff has sponsored, endorsed or approved these products,” the suit reads.
A spokeswoman for MRC had no comment for TheWrap on the lawsuit.
International Games Technology is also named as a defendant in the suit.
Alleging trademark infringement, trademark dilution and unfair competition, the suit, filed in federal court in Massachusetts, is seeking unspecified damages. D2 also wants an order preventing MRC and International Games Technology from using the House of Cards mark.
Pamela Chelin contributed to this report.