WWE wins lawsuit over The Bloodline's signature gesture

A federal judge has dismissed a copyright infringement lawsuit against WWE and 2K with prejudice, effectively ending the legal challenge regarding the signature gesture used by the wrestling faction The Bloodline.

The lawsuit was filed by Nathaniel Tatha-Nahandji, an independent promoter associated with WCWA and the creator of the Tier 1 faction. The plaintiff alleged that WWE copied a specific visual sequence, including the group's formation, pauses, and a specific raised-finger pose.

District Judge David Clay Fowkes ruled that the plaintiff failed to demonstrate both access to the original content and substantial similarity between the two works. The court noted that while the plaintiff's exhibits lacked consistency, the gesture used by WWE was stable across its presentations. Consequently, the court determined that the plaintiff failed to state a claim for direct copyright infringement.