MLB Players’ Union, DraftKings settle publicity rights lawsuit

Legal

Major League Baseball’s players union has settled a lawsuit against DraftKings  that accused the online sports-betting giant of misusing ​the names and likenesses of hundreds of MLB players on ‌its platform without permission.

U.S. District Judge Karen Marston in Philadelphia dismissed the case, after the parties told her they had reached a settlement. Details of ​the settlement were not publicly available, and spokespeople for DraftKings ​and the players union did not immediately respond to requests ⁠for comment and more information.

The union sued DraftKings and ​the company’s chief rival FanDuel in 2024, arguing they violated the rights ​of nearly all active MLB players by using their names, images and likenesses on their betting platforms without a license. FanDuel settled the lawsuit against it later that ​year.

DraftKings responded that it did not violate the players’ publicity rights ​because it provides the same “newsworthy” statistics, betting odds and other information as traditional ‌media ⁠outlets using athlete names and likenesses.

RECOMMENDED