The MLB players trade union sued several top sportsbooks for unauthorised use of player images yesterday (16 September).
Major League Baseball Players Inc. (MLBPI) has filed lawsuits against several leading sports betting companies, including FanDuel, Underdog Sports, DraftKings, and bet365.
The MLBPI alleged unauthorised use of MLB players’ images and likenesses on their betting platforms and in advertising.
The player’s attorneys said: “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.”
MLBPI is the for-profit subsidiary of the MLB Players Association, the Major League Baseball players trade union.
In two complaints, filed separately in New York and Pennsylvania, accuse the sportsbooks and DFS operator of “knowing and deliberate misappropriation” of player images for commercial purposes without proper licensing or consent from MLBPI.
The organisation claims that since early 2024, these companies have prominently featured images of nearly every active MLB player on their websites and mobile apps.
MLBPI argues that the use of player images goes beyond mere information and serves a promotional purpose.
The lawsuits contend that while users can place bets without seeing player images, the sportsbooks deliberately use them to increase consumer appeal and attract more bets.
While some companies, including FanDuel, reportedly have limited rights to use player likenesses in promotional materials, MLBPI asserts that these rights do not extend to use within the betting platforms themselves.
The complaints cite violations of state right of publicity laws, with MLBPI seeking compensatory and punitive damages, as well as injunctive relief to prevent further unauthorized use of player images.
The lawsuit comes in the wake of the NLF Players Association opting to sue DraftKings for non-payment of fees following the closure of its Reignmakers NFT product.
NEXT.io has reached out to FanDuel and DraftKings for comment.