To License or Not To License — Lessons learned from CDM v. MLBAM

By Maidie E. Oliveau*   An entrepreneur wishing to use historical information about any of the major sports leagues has long been pressed to venture out on his or her own without a license from the league. Such licenses may be obtained, with varying degrees of difficulty, from the leagues in exchange for a royalty and sometimes a guarantee and/or an advance against earned royalties. The risk of antagonizing the league is something not taken lightly as the resources of the leagues tend to