In a significant move, FanDuel has settled a lawsuit with Major League Baseball’s players union, resolving allegations that the sports betting platform had used the names, images, and likenesses of hundreds of MLB players without proper permission. The settlement, confirmed by a FanDuel spokesperson, involves a confidential licensing agreement between the two parties. As part of the deal, the players have agreed to dismiss their claims, with no possibility of them being refiled.
The lawsuit, initially filed in September, accused FanDuel of exploiting the likenesses of nearly every active MLB player in a manner that violated their rights. The players argued that the unauthorized use of their images and names on the platform undermined their ability to control the commercial use of their identities—something they view as an essential part of the financial returns from their athletic careers.
Though FanDuel has yet to publicly address the allegations in court, this settlement puts an end to the legal battle, which had drawn attention to the broader issue of player image rights in the rapidly growing sports betting industry. Meanwhile, similar legal challenges are unfolding in other sports. The NFL Players Union, for example, has brought a separate lawsuit against DraftKings over the use of player likenesses in non-fungible token (NFT) markets.
