MLBPA, FanDuel Settle Lawsuit Over Alleged Unfair Use of Name, Image and Likeness

NEW YORK (AP) — A commercial affiliate of the Major League Baseball Players Association settled a lawsuit Friday with FanDuel over the alleged unauthorized use of names and images of MLB players on its sports betting platform.

The settlement, obtained by The Associated Press, said MLB Players Inc. and FanDuel agreed to a voluntary dismissal of the lawsuit with prejudice, meaning the suit cannot be refiled.

The association and sportsbook “shall each bear their own attorneys’ fees and costs in connection with this matter,” according to court documents.

The MLBPA acknowledged the settlement Friday but said it would have no further comment.

FanDuel was removed from the New York lawsuit, which also included Underdog Sports. It was not immediately clear whether Underdog Sports had also decided. A separate lawsuit filed Sept. 16 against DraftKings Inc. and Bet365 Group Ltd. pending in federal court in Philadelphia.

MLB Players Inc. also sued the Pittsburgh Pirates’ parent company and convenience store chain Sheetz Inc. in August alleging unlicensed use of the players’ names and images on social media. That’s what the pirates said the next day that an oral agreement had been entered into to settle the case, but no public documents reflecting a settlement have been filed.

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Associated Press