What is the main dispute between Panini and Fanatics?

The core dispute involves Panini's lawsuit against Fanatics over league licenses and alleged anticompetitive practices, with Fanatics countersuing Panini for similar offenses.

Why are league licenses so important in the sports card industry?

League licenses allow companies to use official team names, logos, and branding on sports cards, which are generally more desirable and valuable to collectors.

What are "pajama cards" in the context of Panini and Fanatics?

"Pajama cards" is a disparaging term for unlicensed cards that feature athletes but lack official team branding, often appearing less desirable to collectors.

Home / Business and Economy / Panini's Sales Pitch vs. Court Claims Clash

Panini's Sales Pitch vs. Court Claims Clash

9 Dec, 2025

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Summary

Panini claims court that it needs league licenses to compete.
Panini's sales pitch documents suggest it can thrive without licenses.
Fanatics alleges Panini engaged in deceptive practices and inflated projections.

Panini's Sales Pitch vs. Court Claims Clash

Panini is currently engaged in a significant legal dispute with rival Fanatics, a battle that could reshape the sports trading card industry. While Panini claims in court filings that it cannot compete without essential league licenses, its private sales pitches to potential buyers paint a different picture.

Confidential documents reveal Panini asserting its capability to develop appealing collections and even outperform official products with "unofficial" cards, directly contradicting its court assertions. These documents highlight the success of past unlicensed products, like a 1994 World Cup sticker album that reportedly outsold the official one significantly.

Meanwhile, Fanatics has countersued, alleging Panini employed deceitful tactics and presented inflated profit projections during past negotiations. The outcome of this complex litigation, with a trial date set for April 2027, remains uncertain but holds considerable weight for the future of sports collectibles.

Disclaimer: This story has been auto-aggregated and auto-summarised by a computer program. This story has not been edited or created by the Feedzop team.

Panini's Sales Pitch vs. Court Claims Clash

9 Dec, 2025

•

Summary

Panini claims court that it needs league licenses to compete.
Panini's sales pitch documents suggest it can thrive without licenses.
Fanatics alleges Panini engaged in deceptive practices and inflated projections.

Disclaimer: This story has been auto-aggregated and auto-summarised by a computer program. This story has not been edited or created by the Feedzop team.