Introduction

The recent decision by U.S. District Judge Karen Marston in MLB Players Inc. v. DraftKings and Bet365[1] represents a pivotal development in the legal landscape surrounding name, image, and likeness (NIL) rights. The ruling explores critical intersections between publicity rights, commercial speech, First Amendment protections, and the legal boundaries of “news reporting.” The implications extend far beyond baseball, potentially affecting companies using athlete or celebrity NIL in commercial marketing across sports betting, digital advertising, and beyond.Continue Reading Redrawing the NIL Playbook: Key Legal Takeaways from MLB Players Inc. v. DraftKings and Bet365

In recent years, the surge in athlete trademarks has marked a strategic shift in how sports personalities approach their personal brands. Having recognized their inherent commercial value, athletes today are viewed as powerful brands with marketable identities.Continue Reading Guarding the Name of the Game: The Role of Lawyers in Safeguarding Athlete Trademarks

Now more than ever, access to quality data translates to monetization opportunities and this is especially true in the world of collegiate and professional sports.  In the past two decades, data analytic tools measuring athlete health and performance have come a long way, and now, it is not just players or teams that stand to potentially profit.  In particular, the advent of wearable technology has produced a sports biometrics boom that could soon become a gold rush for players, teams, universities, and companies looking to use or sell biometric data.
Continue Reading Navigating the Sports Biometrics Boom