Michigan State University Board of Regents Sued Over Quiz Controversy

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. The incident drew significant backlash, particularly given the timing, which coincided with heightened tensions following the outbreak of war between Israel and Hamas. Following the incident, MSU issued a public apology, disciplined the employee responsible, and acknowledged accountability for the content shown on its videoboards. In his lawsuit, van Pallandt asserts that MSU's actions were not only unauthorized but also damaging to his business. He contends that the quiz was inappropriate for the event and that the university's subsequent attempts to distance itself from the incident were misleading. Van Pallandt, a Dutch citizen with a business based in Colombia, expressed that had MSU contacted him, he could have provided a more suitable quiz for the occasion. The university has stated it will no longer utilize the third-party source for content, emphasizing the need for careful consideration of material presented at public events.