Topps to be replaced as the BB Card Manuracturer

[JustinD]

Topps has had the exclusive license since 2010 and there has not been one year without unlicensed logo competition. The Panini releases are always unlicensed and honestly the donruss diamond kings have consistently beat the Topps design in my mind.

They won’t have team logos but this is certainly not closing Topps doors, it won’t slow the release schedules at all.

[Mark17]

Originally Posted by JustinD

Topps has had the exclusive license since 2010 and there has not been one year without unlicensed logo competition. The Panini releases are always unlicensed and honestly the donruss diamond kings have consistently beat the Topps design in my mind.

They won’t have team logos but this is certainly not closing Topps doors, it won’t slow the release schedules at all.

Without permission to use the players' pictures, what can they do on the Major League level without being sued? Even if they could produce a set, how ugly would it be with every player wearing a generic air brushed hat and uniform?

[JustinD]

Originally Posted by Mark17

Without permission to use the players' pictures, what can they do on the Major League level without being sued? Even if they could produce a set, how ugly would it be with every player wearing a generic air brushed hat and uniform?

I understand you are likely strictly a vintage collector but as was stated topps has had the exclusive license since 2010. For an example of how it can be done, just google any non-topps mlb release for the past 11 years. The mlb license is for logos not players.

[Mark17]

Originally Posted by JustinD

I understand you are likely strictly a vintage collector but as was stated topps has had the exclusive license since 2010. For an example of how it can be done, just google any non-topps mlb release for the past 11 years. The mlb license is for logos not players.

Understood, but this deal also includes the Players' Association.

"That longevity was threatened Thursday, as The Action Network confirmed that Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association have given their exclusive licenses to Fanatics."

[JustinD]

Originally Posted by Mark17

Understood, but this deal also includes the Players' Association.

"That longevity was threatened Thursday, as The Action Network confirmed that Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association have given their exclusive licenses to Fanatics."

Apologies, I did not read the mlbpa note. It leaves me to wonder if they will issue multiple licenses for additional cash even as it says exclusive as they have no history of exclusive deals. If the players see additional cash not taken it could cause more problems than on the mlb side. I don’t see this working in a positive way to give exclusivity to a private company with zero production or distribution experience outside their own sites.

[Mark17]

Originally Posted by JustinD

I don’t see this working in a positive way to give exclusivity to a private company with zero production or distribution experience outside their own sites.

If the deal involves huge, guaranteed, up-front cash, I could see it.

[Mungo Hungo]

Originally Posted by JustinD

Apologies, I did not read the mlbpa note. It leaves me to wonder if they will issue multiple licenses for additional cash even as it says exclusive as they have no history of exclusive deals. If the players see additional cash not taken it could cause more problems than on the mlb side. I don’t see this working in a positive way to give exclusivity to a private company with zero production or distribution experience outside their own sites.

Issuing multiple licenses seems very unlikely, since Fanatics, or whatever it is they're called, paid for an exclusive license. MLBPA would most certainly be in breach, and subject to substantial damages.

[Tabe]

Originally Posted by JustinD

Apologies, I did not read the mlbpa note. It leaves me to wonder if they will issue multiple licenses for additional cash even as it says exclusive as they have no history of exclusive deals. If the players see additional cash not taken it could cause more problems than on the mlb side. I don’t see this working in a positive way to give exclusivity to a private company with zero production or distribution experience outside their own sites.

MLB and MLBPA have ownership in the new company. They gave themselves the exclusive license. The NFL and NFLPA have ownership, too. NBAPA does, too. So Panini can kiss their NFL license goodbye as well. The players from the NBA and NFL have already signed deals with the new company.

And these guys have 4 years to figure this stuff out. I expect distribution and production to be minor issues at best.

[BobC]

So the question becomes, does Fanatics find and hire their own, new staff and people to start to work on the upcoming design, production, and distribution of baseball and other sports cards in the coming years, or do they start to go after and poach as many Topps people as they can, or lastly, do they wait till this new licensing goes through and wipes out Topps' attempt to go public and just swoop in and buy them out for pennies on the dollar (and get all their employees that way)?