Washington State and Oregon State Universities have been awarded a preliminary injunction in their dispute with the Pac-12 Conference. The universities had filed a lawsuit against the conference in December 2020, alleging that the Pac-12 had violated antitrust laws by failing to provide them with a fair share of conference revenue. The injunction prevents the Pac-12 from taking any action to enforce its revenue distribution policies until the lawsuit is resolved.
The dispute between the two universities and the Pac-12 began in October 2020, when Washington State and Oregon State filed a complaint with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. The complaint alleged that the Pac-12 had violated antitrust laws by failing to provide them with a fair share of conference revenue. The universities argued that the Pac-12’s revenue distribution policies were unfair and discriminatory, and that they were being denied their rightful share of conference revenue.
The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California agreed with the universities and granted them a preliminary injunction. The injunction prevents the Pac-12 from taking any action to enforce its revenue distribution policies until the lawsuit is resolved. This means that Washington State and Oregon State will continue to receive their full share of conference revenue while the lawsuit is pending.
The dispute between Washington State and Oregon State and the Pac-12 is an important one, as it could have a significant impact on college athletics in the United States. If the universities are successful in their lawsuit, it could lead to a more equitable distribution of conference revenue among all of the schools in the Pac-12. This could mean more money for all of the schools in the conference, which could lead to better facilities, better coaching staffs, and better opportunities for student-athletes.
The outcome of this dispute will be closely watched by college athletics fans across the country. It is an important case that could have far-reaching implications for college athletics in the United States. Washington State and Oregon State have taken a bold step in challenging the Pac-12’s revenue distribution policies, and it will be interesting to see how this case plays out in the coming months.
