In September, DraftKings and FanDuel, among other betting companies, were named defendants in lawsuits filed by the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA).
In the legal claims, the Association alleged image rights violations, accusing the betting companies of using player images and names without permission. Now, at least one of the lawsuits was resolved Friday.
Settled with Prejudice, the Lawsuit Cannot Return to Court
Filed with the New York State court, the lawsuit accusing FanDuel of using player names and likeness without permission was settled after only two months. The MLBPA and FanDuel signed a confidential licensing agreement while also agreeing to dismiss the legal claim, as announced by Reuters.
The lawsuit was settled by the two sides with prejudice. This means neither the MLBPA nor FanDuel would be permitted to refile the legal challenge with a court. The decision to dismiss the lawsuit with prejudice also underlines that each party in the legal claim will be responsible for settling their own attorney’s costs and fees on the matter.
The lawsuit filed in September read: “For professional athletes, the ability to control the commercial use of their names, images, and likenesses is a crucial return on their substantial career investment.” However, considering the latest development, it looks like the MLBPA and FanDuel have resolved the issue at hand.
Although it is interesting what licensing agreement the duo inked, at the time of writing, there are no public details on the matter. Usually, licensing agreements enable companies, or in this case betting operators, to use the images and likeness of athletes. It is likely that the latest agreement is confidential in order to avoid potential complications.
Lawsuits Against Other Betting Companies Continue
Besides FanDuel, the MLBPA filed a lawsuit against Underdog Sports, again in New York. Separately, the Association named Bet365 and DraftKings defendants in a legal claim filed with a federal court in Philadelphia.
So far, it is unclear whether the legal hurdle against Underdog Sports will continue. MLBPA’s lawsuit against Bet365 and DraftKings in Philadelphia is yet to pick up speed as well.
