National Football League v. Ninth Inning, Inc.

The NFL is asking the Supreme Court to review a Ninth Circuit decision that let an antitrust case over live NFL telecasts move forward. The petition says the lower court should have required a fuller showing of harm to competition in a properly defined market and should not have let certain plaintiffs seek damages.

The case is still pending, and oral argument has not been scheduled. The NFL argues the Ninth Circuit let the claims proceed without full rule-of-reason review and despite objections to the plaintiffs' antitrust standing.

The case could affect how sports leagues and other joint ventures structure distribution deals for shared products. For example, it may shape whether businesses or consumers who say they were shut out by a media-distribution arrangement can keep an antitrust suit alive early in the case.

The justices have not scheduled oral argument or announced a decision on whether to take up the case. Watch for a scheduling move or other order showing whether the case will move forward at the Court.

The NFL says the Ninth Circuit wrongly let an antitrust challenge to its telecast arrangements go forward. It argues plaintiffs should have shown harm in a properly defined market.

Sports leagues, broadcasters, distributors, and businesses claiming they were harmed by joint distribution deals could be affected. Early antitrust lawsuits may become easier or harder to pursue.

Watch to see whether the Supreme Court takes any scheduling action. No oral argument has been set, and no decision window is available yet.