MLBPA affiliate withdraws image lawsuit against Pirates' parent company, Sheetz

Title: MLBPA affiliate withdraws image lawsuit against Pirates' parent company, Sheetz | TribLIVE.com MLB Players Inc. withdrew its lawsuit against the Pittsburgh Pirates' parent company and Sheetz regarding the unauthorized use of player names and images on social media. The lawsuit was initially filed on August 14 in U.S. District Court in Pittsburgh, alleging violations of Pennsylvania law concerning identity misappropriation and unjust enrichment. MLB Players Inc. sought both an injunction and damages from the Pirates and Sheetz. A verbal agreement was reached shortly after the lawsuit was filed, leading to the voluntary dismissal of the case on December 23. The lawsuit specifically mentioned improper use of images of several players, including Paul Skenes and Andrew McCutchen, in social media posts by the team and Sheetz. The Pirates announced a jersey patch sponsorship deal with Sheetz on June 21, which may have influenced the withdrawal of the lawsuit. MLB Players Inc. has other ongoing legal actions, including a pending lawsuit against DraftKings and Bet365 for similar unauthorized use of player likenesses. Additional lawsuits have been filed against FanDuel and Underdog Sports in New York for improper use of names and images, with the case against FanDuel being dismissed. The legal actions reflect the increasing scrutiny over the use of athlete likenesses in marketing and advertising by companies. As of now, lawyers for DraftKings, Underdog, and Bet365 have not commented on the ongoing legal matters.

Original Article: https://triblive.com/sports/mlbpa-affiliate-withdraws-image-lawsuit-against-pirates-parent-company-sheetz/

Original Article Author: Associated Press