FanDuel Shifts MLB Players’ NIL Suit to New York Federal Court

FanDuel Inc. removed a New York state court lawsuit accusing it of unlicensed use of Major League Baseball players’ names, images, and likenesses to federal court.

The US District Court for the Southern District of New York has original jurisdiction over MLB Players Inc.'s suit because federal law “completely preempts” state law claims equivalent to Copyright Act claims, the gambling platform said in a notice of removal filed Friday.

MLB Players, a subsidiary of the players’ labor union, sued FanDuel on Sept. 16 in New York state’s Supreme Court, alleging it and digital gambling site Underdog Sports Inc. misappropriated ...