Independent Sellers Sue NFL, Fanatics And TikTok in Sports Memorabilia Antitrust Lawsuit
Independent sports memorabilia sellers filed a federal antitrust lawsuit accusing the NFL, Fanatics and TikTok of coordinating an anticompetitive scheme to monopolize the sports memorabilia market. The complaint alleges the defendants worked together to suppress competition by banning independent resellers, manipulating TikTok’s algorithmic visibility and pressuring sellers to sign exclusivity deals with Fanatics to regain platform access.
The lawsuit names NFL Properties, NFL Enterprises and ByteDance alongside the primary defendants, citing claims of conspiracy in restraint of trade, monopolization and unfair competition while seeking injunctive relief. The plaintiff claims the alleged conduct destroyed thousands of small businesses and consolidated market control in Fanatics' favor, a dynamic potentially amplified by the NFL's ownership stake in the retailer. According to the complaint, legal counsel for the named defendants has not yet formally appeared in the case.
From the sources (4 posts)
@marionawfal🇺🇸 The NFL, Fanatics, and TikTok just got sued for allegedly teaming up to wipe out small memorabilia sellers. The claimed playbook: ban sellers on fake pretenses, send NFL-letterhead threats, wipe their follower counts, then push their cu
@barnes_lawRT @GivnerAriel: TikTok, Fanatics, and the NFL got sued this week for allegedly teaming up to wipe out independent sports memorabilia selle…
@comewithfacts🚨 BREAKING: A federal lawsuit has been filed against TikTok, Fanatics, the NFL, NFL Properties, NFL Enterprises, ByteDance, and affiliated entities, accusing them of orchestrating an anticompetitive scheme to monopolize the sports memorabil
@nypostTikTok, Fanatics and NFL hit with lawsuit over alleged plot to crush independent sellers