Corporate & Securities Law

The Supreme Court Seeks Solicitor General’s View of Whether to Grant Certiorari in a Case that Shielded the NFL’s Licensing Arrangement from Antitrust Scrutiny

By Matthew S. Wild

The September 4, 2008 Post examined a recent Seventh Circuit decision that held that the NFL’s was immune under the antitrust laws for its licensing of team logos on headwear to Reebok.  American Needle Inc. v. Nat?l Football League, No. 07-4006, 2008 WL 3822782 (7th Cir. Aug. 18, 2008).  The Supreme Court has just expressed an interest in reviewing the case.  It has “invited” the Solicitor General to “file briefs expressing the views of the United States.”  This case is also unusual because both parties sought Supreme Court review.  Although it won below, the NFL sought Supreme Court review so that its potential antitrust liability for league activity will no longer depend on which Circuit it is sued.

Full post as published by Antitrust Commentary on February 24, 2009 (boomark / email).