Last August, I wrote about the deal between MLB and Topps and how it was arranged that Topps would have exclusive rights to MLB logos and graphics.
Now there seems to be another chapter to the story.
MLB is now suing Upper Deck for trademark infringement for using its logos on its cards without permission.
It said Upper Deck’s cards improperly feature various sport and team logos, and that some 2010 packaging featuring New York Yankee shortstop Derek Jeter may confuse consumers because of its similarity to authorized packaging used in 2009.
MLB wants to halt sales of the cards and seeks ātriple and punitive damagesā.
Iām all in Upper Deckās corner for the non-competitive deal that MLB made with Topps last year but surely Upper Deck didnāt think they could get away with this. MLB (and Topps for that matter) would be keeping their eyes on them for any trademark infringement. And sure enough, they caught them with their hand in the figurative cookie jar.