Justices Don't Buy MLB's Fantasy Pitch

Using players' real names in for-profit leagues is free speech, Supreme Court rules

By Nick McMaster

Posted Jun 2, 2008 2:15 PM CDT

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Justices Don't Buy MLB's Fantasy Pitch — Fantasy leagues argued that, under free-speech law, the names and statistics of baseball players like New York's Derek Jeter could be used without paying a fee, the Los Angeles Times reports. (AP Photo/Rob Carr)

The Supreme Court refused today to hear an appeal by Major League Baseball against a ruling that allowed fantasy sports leagues to use real players' names and stats without paying a licensing fee, the Los Angeles Times reports. MLB contended such leagues shouldn't "exploit players' identity for commercial gain;" the for-profit ventures said free-speech law allows it.

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