[Rovell] NFLPA terminates relationship with Panini effective immediately

[waytoomanycards]

Originally Posted by 49erRCCollector

What does that even mean?

Also: "The emergency arbitrator also denied Panini's request to maintain the status quo under the terminated license agreement until the arbitration is heard."

So Panini can keep going... but can't keep going?

But players should fufil autograph contracts?

Maybe I'm reading this wrong.

IDK either, but maybe Panini wanted to prevent Fanatics/Topps from printing football cards in the interim and that's what they meant by status quo?

[49erRCCollector]

Originally Posted by waytoomanycards

IDK either, but maybe Panini wanted to prevent Fanatics/Topps from printing football cards in the interim and that's what they meant by status quo?

That makes sense.

[Fenway55]

Originally Posted by auburn35

NFLPA's response to the arbitration ruling.
For now, both Panini and Fanatics will sell NFLPA-licensed cards
https://x.com/Paul_Lesko/status/1709...309362872?s=20

If Fanatics wants to start selling NFLPA licensed cards, now it is Panini's time to file an emergency injunction preventing the printing and distribution of such cards.

Based on the prior rulings, sure seems to me Panini would beat the NFLPA worse than Miami beat Denver 2 weeks ago.

Lemme tell ya.... if the arbitrator ruled in Panini's favor during the emergency proceeding (which they did) then that 99.99% tells you how they will rule on the actual case.

[KhalDrogo]

I look forward to continue to spend $0 on the trash that Fanatics produces.

[fabiani12333]

Originally Posted by cholodolo

They threw a pick in the end zone, legally. This is the usual defiant spin from corporate serpents.

That second paragraph was not a great idea...because now it is very easy for Panini (or anyone in the media) to inquire as to HOW LONG Fanatics and the NFLPA have been working together. Did it precede the termination? Was there collusion?

And lol at you guys better keep signing those cards. Another L.

5/8/2017

The NFL, NFL Players Association and Major League Baseball have all purchased equity stakes in Fanatics, America’s biggest online sports retailer, which has grown to become one of the largest licensees of each league

“The thinking now is that rights fees alone won’t cut it,” said a source with knowledge of the NFL deal. “Now there needs to be an equity upside.”

Left unanswered are several essential issues surrounding the union and league investments in Fanatics, including their impact on rival licensees; what, if any, extensions or additional rights Fanatics received as part of the investments; and whether other sports properties will follow with their own Fanatics equity investments.

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.co.../Fanatics.aspx

[rmw10]

That is a wildly confusing statement. I’m not an expert by any means, but I’m taking from it that Panini doesn’t have to cease and desist immediately, but they also aren’t able to just go out and run their full slate as they normally would. What’s that middle ground? Maybe the contract term date or they can produce until the actual hearing? Who knows. It’s not very clear.

[auburn35]

Originally Posted by rmw10

That is a wildly confusing statement. I’m not an expert by any means, but I’m taking from it that Panini doesn’t have to cease and desist immediately, but they also aren’t able to just go out and run their full slate as they normally would. What’s that middle ground? Maybe the contract term date or they can produce until the actual hearing? Who knows. It’s not very clear.

Yes, still lots of unanswered questions but having Panini's spin last week, it was nice to hear from the NFLPA.

As products need to be approved well in advance of release, I'm assuming Panini is only working on already approved products. Depending on what's happening behind the scenes and the length of the contract arbitration, Panini might have difficulty with future releases.

[CapMarvelous]

NFLPA trading cards from Fanatics will be photoshopped abominations, the likes of which we have never seen.

Scratch that, there has been an awful lot of hideous photoshopping.

[jkampis]

Originally Posted by Chris P

Umm a lot of people still care about the WWE

Not sure why

[cholodolo]

Originally Posted by fabiani12333

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.co.../Fanatics.aspx

How does that relate to anything we are talking about?

The question is how long they've been working together to produce trading cards...not apparel or autograph deals.

[49erRCCollector]

I'm not an unlicensed guy so I'll follow the NFL license, which sounds like it is still Panini.

This feels like negotiation by way of litigation. Fanatics just making this all so painful Panini bows out, but I don't get the feeling that Panini is going anywhere unless the right size check is written.

[BayAreaChris]

Originally Posted by cholodolo

How does that relate to anything we are talking about?

The question is how long they've been working together to produce trading cards...not apparel or autograph deals.

To come to his defense, I think it does relate. If NFLPA has equity in Fanatics Inc which Topps is part of, they’ve probably been working together since around that time which is years ago. You would expect them to want to expand their relationship.

[cholodolo]

Originally Posted by BayAreaChris

To come to his defense, I think it does relate. If NFLPA has equity in Fanatics Inc which Topps is part of, they’ve probably been working together since around that time which is years ago. You would expect them to want to expand their relationship.

I agree with that, but if they've been collaborating on trading card production, design, etc prior to the expiration or termination, then they likely violated the exclusive agreement granted to Panini. Panini paid a lot of money for exclusivity and if Fanatics was undermining that, it could be problematic.

Personally, my NFL collection is mostly Upper Deck Howie Long LA Raiders cards so have never had the negative experiences others have had with Panini.

[cfern023]

First look at 2023 Topps NFLPA Football :
https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/s...C5Npg&usqp=CAE

[rmw10]

Again, I'm not going to pretend I understand even half of the legal terminology, but reading through the Panini vs. Fanatics antitrust tweets from Paul Lesko... Panini seems to be shooting themselves in the foot.

[gwgecko]

Originally Posted by waytoomanycards

IDK either, but maybe Panini wanted to prevent Fanatics/Topps from printing football cards in the interim and that's what they meant by status quo?

I'm pretty sure the "status quo" Panini tried to get was the ability to keep making new NFL cards until 2026.

[triden3012]

So I'm guessing that it not good odds that we have any 2023 Prizm, Optic or Select coming out.

[CapMarvelous]

Originally Posted by triden3012

So I'm guessing that it not good odds that we have any 2023 Prizm, Optic or Select coming out.

Panini can still release NFL/NFLPA cards while the courts sort out everything, I believe.

The hold-up these last couple of months will probably push back everything they already had planned.

[rmw10]

Phoenix is now listed as coming soon on the Panini website. Think this is the first new product to be announced since the days right after this announcement.

Edit: and apparently Certified is on the release calendar now

[byronscott4ever]

Many Instant NFL cards coming but it feels like they aren’t using all players

[rmw10]

Originally Posted by byronscott4ever

Many Instant NFL cards coming but it feels like they aren’t using all players

Interesting call out. They hadn't done any NFL Instant stuff all season, so seems like they're back to business as usual.

[glassofwater]

Originally Posted by byronscott4ever

Many Instant NFL cards coming but it feels like they aren’t using all players

Are they like topps now cards were they need to be approved by players union?


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[Fenway55]

Originally Posted by glassofwater

Are they like topps now cards were they need to be approved by players union?

Since Panini's contract with the Union is still in force, and I assume that contract includes the option to print "Instant" cards, then Panini already has the Union's approval (even though the Union wants to terminate the contract).

[glassofwater]

Originally Posted by Fenway55

Since Panini's contract with the Union is still in force, and I assume that contract includes the option to print "Instant" cards, then Panini already has the Union's approval (even though the Union wants to terminate the contract).

Right but with topps now topps can’t print any card they want it has to be approved. Thats why some times they have delays before cards go live


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[Fenway55]

Originally Posted by glassofwater

Right but with topps now topps can’t print any card they want it has to be approved. Thats why some times they have delays before cards go live

We know Panini's contract with the NFLPA is exclusive. I would guess - and this is just guessing - that since Topps doesn't have a contract with the NFLPA, they need to get the individual player's approval before they can go ahead and print the Topps Now card. So that adds a layer of bureaucracy which can slow everything down.

I also believe there is a limit to the number of players you can use before it becomes a Union matter. So Topps may have those restrictions to deal with. However, since Topps and the Union are in bed together, the Union may turn a blind eye to those restrictions....