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Showing posts from January, 2025

Fanatics vs Panini Antitrust Fight: What It Means for Licenses, Products, and Prices

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Fanatics vs. Panini: What the Antitrust Heat Could Mean for Licenses, Products, and Prices Fanatics locked up a raft of long exclusive trading-card licenses with the big U.S. leagues and players’ unions, then bought Topps. Panini sued for antitrust. A federal judge let the core claims move forward. Discovery is now spicy, with Fanatics ordered to hand over unredacted licensing deals to Panini’s lawyers. If you care about what logos show up on the box you rip and how much you pay, this fight matters. How we got here The license grab. Fanatics struck exclusive card deals that, by 2025–2026, put most major U.S. league and union rights under its roof for a decade or more. Panini called foul and sued in 2023. What the court said. In March 2025, the judge dismissed some counts but kept the core antitrust claims alive. Translation: the heart of the case is going to be litigated, not tossed. Discovery fireworks. In July 2025, a magistrate judge ordered Fanatic...

Unveiling the Mystery Behind Grading: How Are Trading Cards Graded?

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Trading cards have become a multimillion-dollar industry, with rare cards selling for record-breaking prices. But beneath the surface of the hobby, whispers of manipulation and grading bias have sparked discussions—and some controversy. In this post, we explore how grading works, why it matters, and whether conspiracy theories hold any weight. The Grading Process: An Overview Grading companies like PSA, BGS, and SGC evaluate cards based on: Centering: How balanced the card’s image and borders are. Corners: Are the corners sharp and intact? Edges: Clean, chip-free edges are essential. Surface: Free from scratches, stains, or factory defects. How the Grading Process Works Submission: You mail cards in protective sleeves with a submission form. Pre-Screening: Cards are checked for visible shipping damage. Inspection: Experts evaluate card condition under lighting and magnificatio...