Fanatics wins 7 lawsuit dismissals in trading cards and merchandise

Key Points:

• Fanatics has successfully defended against seven lawsuits in the past year, dismissing claims related to its merchandise and collectibles businesses, which it views as baseless attempts to shake down the company.
• The latest dismissal involved a consolidated case accusing Fanatics of monopolizing the trading card market through exclusive licenses with professional sports leagues, but the federal judge ruled the plaintiffs failed to show they overpaid for products.
• This ruling follows a similar dismissal in March, weakening broader antitrust claims including those by rival Panini, which is also suing Fanatics over alleged anticompetitive behavior after losing exclusive NBA and NFL licensing rights.
• Fanatics has denied all allegations and countersued Panini, accusing it of unfair trade practices and attempting to extort large payments to end licensing agreements.
• Additional lawsuits claiming Fanatics and the NFL restricted distribution of authorized NFL goods were also dismissed, with courts finding plaintiffs lacked standing and did not prove consumer harm.