Collegiate Licensing Company (“CLC”), the biggest player in the licensing of collegiate merchandise, received a cease and desist letter from a Washington D.C. attorney on behalf of unnamed clients requesting that CLC stop limiting the suppliers that provide licensed apparel.  Similar to the American Needle case (involving the NFL), the unnamed product manufacturers will likely argue that limiting the companies able to manufacture licensed products will damage competition in violation of antitrust laws.  In sum, the question is whether the universities’ limitations on the number of manufacturers who produce licensed apparel will drive up prices for consumers.  It is worth noting that CLC is a party in O’Bannon v. NCAA and Keller v. NCAA. 

For any questions, feel free to contact Christian Dennie at cdennie@bgsfirm.com.