Michigan State sued over Hitler question at football game

Michigan State University (MSU) is facing a federal lawsuit after an Adolf Hitler question appeared on videoboards at Spartan Stadium during a football game last season. The quiz's creator, Floris van Pallandt, owner of Carsilius Media, BV, claims the university used his product without permission, which was not intended for mass-market use at a college football event. Van Pallandt is seeking $150,000 in damages and legal fees, alleging copyright infringement and damage to his company's reputation. The contentious question was displayed on October 21, during the pregame of the Michigan-Michigan State matchup, alongside a photo of Hitler and the answer indicating Austria as his birthplace. Following the incident, MSU issued a public apology, with athletic director Alan Haller acknowledging the department's responsibility for the content shown. An employee involved in the quiz's presentation was disciplined, and the university stated it would no longer utilize the third-party source responsible for the quiz. In his lawsuit, van Pallandt contends that MSU's actions were not only unauthorized but also damaging, particularly given the sensitive context of the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict at the time. He expressed that had the university contacted him, he could have provided a more suitable quiz tailored for the event. The lawsuit criticizes MSU for attempting to deflect blame while omitting its role in the incident. The case highlights the complexities of copyright issues in public events and raises questions about the appropriateness of content displayed in sensitive contexts.