Up With Fans!

The Supreme Court has ended (hopefully for good) the battle of MLB vs Fantasy Baseball by refusing to hear their appeal of a lower court's ruling that stat services were free to use player names and stats without a license, as it were.

The legal fight began a number of years ago when the then-parent company of Total Quality Stats (CDM) took MLB to court when they were refused the right to use stats.

Details and opinion can be found in this editorial:

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/editorials/articles/2008/06/03/in_this_fantasy_fans_come_first/

Pro sports should worry more about alienating core fans than about unlicensed fantasy leagues. From foamy fingers to fantasy leagues, fans have invented elaborate new ways to show their devotion over the years. Pro leagues benefit handsomely, even if indirectly, when these innovations flourish.