WJW Posted August 8, 2006 Share Posted August 8, 2006 The judge in the CBC vs. MLBAM/MLBPA case has ruled in favor of CBC, the operator of CDM Fantasy Sports. This is a huge victory for the fantasy sports industry and many have been watching the case closely. There was even coverage of the case last night on the CBS Evening News. Early article on decision. USA Today article. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avernus Posted August 8, 2006 Share Posted August 8, 2006 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big John Posted August 8, 2006 Share Posted August 8, 2006 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hat Trick Posted August 8, 2006 Share Posted August 8, 2006 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DMD Posted August 8, 2006 Share Posted August 8, 2006 Players Associations Fantasy Sports That is OUTSTANDING news. All those contests and league management products you have come to love outside of Yahoo, ESPN and Sportsline now can proceed without fear of litigation or being shut down. The judgement effectively told the MLBPA that they could not extort money for nothing. This is truly a great day in fantasy sports. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chargerz Posted August 8, 2006 Share Posted August 8, 2006 NICE!!!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twiley Posted August 8, 2006 Share Posted August 8, 2006 I guess that favor I called in to Judge Mary Ann Medler worked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peepinmofo Posted August 8, 2006 Share Posted August 8, 2006 I guess that favor I called in to Judge Mary Ann Medler worked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randall Posted August 8, 2006 Share Posted August 8, 2006 At issue was whether CDM's use of player names and statistics in fantasy games violated the players' rights of publicity. MLBAM argued that it owned exclusive rights to license player names for use in fantasy contests by virtue of an agreement made with the MLBPA in January of 2005. CDM argued that player names and statistics were in the public domain and could be used by anyone, much as boxscores are printed for free in newspapers and on websites every day. Judge Medler's finding stated, in part, the following: "the court finds that the undisputed facts establish that the players do not have a right of publicity in their names and playing records as used in CBC's fantasy games and that CBC has not violated the players' claimed right of publicity. The court finds further that the undisputed facts establish the names and playing records of Major League baseball players as used in CBC's fantasy games are not copyrightable and, therefore, federal copyright law does not preempt the players' claimed right of publicity." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitem0nkey Posted August 8, 2006 Share Posted August 8, 2006 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swiss Cheezhead Posted August 8, 2006 Share Posted August 8, 2006 What are the chances the judge was NOT a fantasy player? Thanks, Your Honor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Puddy Posted August 8, 2006 Share Posted August 8, 2006 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piratesownninjas Posted August 8, 2006 Share Posted August 8, 2006 I've been worried about this for a while now... Good news fo sho. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexgaddis Posted August 8, 2006 Share Posted August 8, 2006 This calls for a little Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flip_Side Posted August 8, 2006 Share Posted August 8, 2006 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Savage Beatings Posted August 8, 2006 Share Posted August 8, 2006 Great news! Any chance this will be appealed and keep dragging on though... or is this pretty much it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rattsass Posted August 8, 2006 Share Posted August 8, 2006 Justice is served. Just our way of sticking it to the man!! I mean, keeping the man from sticking it to us!! And that little crumb of faith I have left in humanity is still intact........for now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skins Posted August 8, 2006 Share Posted August 8, 2006 Excellent. It was the only possible legal and logical outcome. I had a great discussion about a month ago with an attorney here in DC who worked inhouse for the NFLPA for years and was the first female NFL players agent. We both agreed this was an egregious form of flexing and would go down in flames. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thecerwin Posted August 8, 2006 Share Posted August 8, 2006 Great news! Any chance this will be appealed and keep dragging on though... or is this pretty much it? It might get appealed but there's no chance in hell an appeals court would over turn this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonehand Posted August 8, 2006 Share Posted August 8, 2006 Brilliant! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seahawk37 Posted August 8, 2006 Share Posted August 8, 2006 whoa a steeler fan might be actually right Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh B Tool Posted August 8, 2006 Share Posted August 8, 2006 At issue was whether CDM's use of player names and statistics in fantasy games violated the players' rights of publicity. MLBAM argued that it owned exclusive rights to license player names for use in fantasy contests by virtue of an agreement made with the MLBPA in January of 2005. CDM argued that player names and statistics were in the public domain and could be used by anyone, much as boxscores are printed for free in newspapers and on websites every day. Judge Medler's finding stated, in part, the following: "the court finds that the undisputed facts establish that the players do not have a right of publicity in their names and playing records as used in CBC's fantasy games and that CBC has not violated the players' claimed right of publicity. The court finds further that the undisputed facts establish the names and playing records of Major League baseball players as used in CBC's fantasy games are not copyrightable and, therefore, federal copyright law does not preempt the players' claimed right of publicity." "Judge Medler also stated she could not have come to such a decision without great help from Twiley." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bronco Billy Posted August 8, 2006 Share Posted August 8, 2006 Never fails to amaze me how a group of people feels the overwhelming need to control the behavior of everyone in society. It's happening more & more and is encroaching upon perfectly legal activities. I guess being an enlightened American means intolerance of others' legal behavior that differs from your preferences... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thecerwin Posted August 8, 2006 Share Posted August 8, 2006 Never fails to amaze me how a group of people feels the overwhelming need to control the behavior of everyone in society. It's happening more & more and is encroaching upon perfectly legal activities. I guess being an enlightened American means intolerance of others' legal behavior that differs from your preferences... I'd say the case is more about money than it is controlling society's behavior... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bronco Billy Posted August 8, 2006 Share Posted August 8, 2006 I'd say the case is more about money than it is controlling society's behavior... It certainly revolves around money. But it still involves legislating others' behavior in what is a legal activity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.