Panini Says Fanatics Cheated to Win NBA, NFL Card Deals
The allegations were made in a new court filing.
Trading card company Panini has accused rival Fanatics of cheating in order to secure exclusive trading card rights to the NBA, NFLPA, the NFL and the NBPA through a breach of confidentiality. In a recent court filing, Panini alleged that Fanatics obtained sensitive and confidential licensing information from Panini, violating the provisions of the licenses involved.
These details included royalty rates, minimum guarantee schedules, marketing commitments, and obligations related to autograph spending. Panini claimed that Fanatics used this information to procure exclusive licenses. Furthermore, Panini alleged that a marketing and licensing venture called OneTeam Partners, which was involved in negotiating Fanatics' license with NBA players, was also part of the alleged conspiracy.
Fanatics has vehemently denied these allegations, stating that Panini's claims are baseless and that the company is attempting to delay the litigation by attacking Fanatics' former licensing partners. OneTeam, which is not a defendant, also denied any involvement in the alleged conspiracy, emphasizing that it was not a party to the NBPA-Fanatics agreement.
The lawsuit, which has been ongoing for three years and is currently in the discovery phase, may ultimately go to trial next year.
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