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Federal Judge Grants Preliminary Victory to NFL in Antitrust Merchandise Lawsuit

By  |  July 16, 2025

The National Football League has recently scored a procedural win in a legal dispute centered on its online merchandise distribution policies, according to CNBC. While the NFL is comprised of 32 independent franchises competing on the field, their business operations often align closely, a factor that has sparked multiple antitrust challenges over the years.

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    Per Reuters and reported by CNBC, a federal judge has dismissed without prejudice a class action lawsuit that accused the NFL of restricting how certain distributors can purchase and resell NFL merchandise online. The suit, brought by Casey’s Distributing, Inc., also names Fanatics as a defendant. The plaintiff claims these restrictions limit consumer choices and artificially inflate prices.

    In his 12-page ruling, federal Judge Andrew Carter Jr. determined that the complaint failed to demonstrate a clear antitrust injury. He noted, “While plaintiffs have been harmed by the actions of the defendants, the law protects competition, not competitors,” as CNBC highlighted in its coverage.

    Read more: Judge Dismisses Antitrust Case Against NFL Over Merchandise Licensing

    Although the dismissal is not final, the decision means Casey’s Distributing has until July 30, 2025, to revise and refile the complaint to better address the alleged legal shortcomings. The ruling came from a judge appointed by former President Barack Obama, whose judicial approach may incline toward allowing the case to move forward if properly amended, CNBC noted.

    For now, the NFL and Fanatics have successfully avoided the suit’s immediate repercussions, but the legal battle over the league’s control of its merchandise market remains ongoing.

    Source: CNBC