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Judge Dismisses Antitrust Case Against NFL Over Merchandise Licensing

By  |  July 15, 2025
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A federal judge has thrown out an antitrust lawsuit brought by a Nebraska-based retailer against the National Football League and its 32 teams, ruling that the claims lacked sufficient legal and factual support. The case had accused the league of monopolizing the distribution of trademarked merchandise and limiting competition.

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    According to Reuters, U.S. District Judge Andrew Carter Jr., based in Manhattan, determined that Casey’s Distributing Inc. did not provide adequate evidence to back its proposed class action. The company, which purchases officially licensed NFL goods for resale, had filed the lawsuit in 2022 alleging that the NFL’s control over distribution channels reduced consumer choice and drove up prices.

    In his decision, Judge Carter acknowledged that while Casey’s may have suffered harm from the league’s practices, antitrust law is intended to protect the competitive process itself, not individual competitors. As Reuters noted, the court found that the complaint did not convincingly demonstrate that consumers had been forced to pay inflated prices due to the NFL’s licensing policies.

    The lawsuit also targeted sports retail giant Fanatics, claiming the company’s exclusive partnership with Walmart led to Casey’s products being pulled from the retailer’s shelves. Fanatics, which was named as a co-defendant, has denied any wrongdoing and did not immediately respond to requests for comment, per Reuters.

    Read more: Athletics Leaders Call for Congressional Help on Antitrust and NIL Rules

    Though Walmart and Amazon were mentioned in the complaint, they were not named as defendants. Casey’s specifically pointed to Amazon’s marketplace as a crucial venue for small businesses to sell licensed NFL gear, arguing that it and other retailers had been unjustly barred from participating due to the league’s restrictions.

    In defense, the NFL argued that its licensing policies are both lawful and flexible, emphasizing that retailers wishing to operate on platforms like Amazon must go through an approval process via NFL Properties, the body that oversees the league’s intellectual property. According to Reuters, the league maintained that its policies are focused on brand integrity and consumer protection, not on setting prices or limiting output.

    Judge Carter’s dismissal of the case, however, is not the final word. Casey’s has been granted the opportunity to amend and refile its complaint by the end of the month in an effort to revive its claims.

    The case is titled Casey’s Distributing Inc. v. National Football Club et al, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 1:22-cv-03934-ALC. Casey’s is represented by attorneys John Balestriere of Balestriere Fariello and Justin Nematzadeh of Nematzadeh PLLC, while the NFL’s defense team includes Bradley Ruskin, David Munkittrick, and Jeffrey Warshafsky of Proskauer Rose.

    Source: Reuters