EAST LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – In October 2023, Michigan State University (MSU) decided to spice up the pregame festivities before their rivalry game against the University of Michigan by streaming a YouTube trivia quiz on the Spartan Stadium video scoreboard, a 5,412- square-foot screen. This occurred just two weeks after the Hamas attack on Israel, during a period of heightened sensitivity.

Among the 40 questions was “Where was Adolf Hitler born?” – complete with a large image of Hitler himself. This geography question about the fascist resulted in swift and brutal backlash.

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The university scrambled to apologize, suspended the unnamed employee responsible, and vowed to implement stricter content review processes. Athletic Director Alan Haller called the incident “unacceptable” and promised to reach out to the Jewish community to rebuild trust.

The quizmaster strikes back.

Enter Floris van Pallandt, the Dutch creator of The Quiz Channel on YouTube. He was less than thrilled to see his content – intended for casual online trivia enthusiasts – broadcast to tens of thousands of football fans without permission.

Van Pallandt sued the university for copyright infringement and invasion of privacy, seeking $150K in damages. He argued that the quiz was never meant for mass consumption at a sporting event and that MSU’s unauthorized use and subsequent actions had subjected him to ridicule and harmed his business.

Settling the score (board).

Fast forward to May 2025, and MSU has agreed to settle the lawsuit for $30K according to the Lansing State Journal.

The settlement closes the chapter on one of the more bizarre college football controversies in recent memory. The payout serves as a reminder that even trivia isn’t trivial when played on a five-story screen – and that streaming without permission can cost more than just embarrassment.