Trading card company Upper Deck and the owner of a renowned 1988 photograph depicting NBA superstar Michael Jordan have reached a settlement regarding a federal lawsuit in California. The legal action claimed that Upper Deck had made millions leveraging the photo without securing the necessary permissions.
The now-settled lawsuit had levelled serious allegations against the trading card company. It suggested that Upper Deck had created significant revenue streams from the unauthorized use of the contentious 1988 photograph of the NBA all-star.
Despite some level of uncertainty surrounding the precise details of the settlement, what is clear is that both parties have agreed to resolve their legal dispute. As with many such legal settlements, the specifics often remain confidential, preventing complete disclosure to the public.
However, it is unsurprising that the use of photographs in this context can stir legal challenges. Images of internationally renowned athletes such as Michael Jordan can be incredibly high-value assets, given the recognition and commerical leverage they can bring.
For further information on the original lawsuit and the circumstances surrounding the dispute, you can visit Law360.