Backactcha: NLPA Responds To CBS Interactive With Fantasy Sports Lawsuit Of Its Own
This story was written by Staci D. Kramer.
Last week, CBS Interactive (NYSE: CBS) sued the National Football League Players Association in U.S. District Court in Minnesota over the right to use stats and more for fantasy football. Tuesday, the NFLPA ran a reverse option, filing its own suit in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The players association claims CBS Interactive is violating players' rights with "unauthorized use of the names. images, likenesses, photographs, statistics and biographical information" in connection with its commercial fantasy football games. The association "seeks to prevent CBS Interactive from improperly and unlawfully" using those items to promote or advertising its fantasy business; it wants damages and a permanent injunction. The venue stems from CBSSPorts.com's headquarters in Ft. Lauderdale.
As for the previous ruling that seemed to provide some clarity on rights for fantasy leagues, the NFLPA says its amicus brief in that case "did not make it a party to that action." It also contends that the ruling was "unique and erroneous" and that the U.S. Supreme Court's rejection of the case "has no precedential effect whatsoever." You can read the whole suit in the pdf below.
By Staci D. Kramer