Yes, this is a baseball card blog, but because it is related to the company whose products I collect, it's big news.
The number one source in the hobby has reported that the NFL Players Association will not renew Topps License for 2010.
The current deal with Topps, Upper Deck, and Panini runs until February, 2010, and who is to say what happens in 2011 and beyond.
But here is the thing:
Just like in MLB, there are two distinct marketing arms in the NFL, NFL Properties and the NFL Players Association. There was a time in the early 90's that Topps didn't have a license from the NFL Properties, yet still produced cards as they were licensed by the NFLPA. I think now that the licenses have reversed because there has been no official word from NFL Properties regarding this matter. Just because the Players Association is cutting Topps off doesn't mean that they are totally out of the NFL card business yet. If however, NFL Properties says they are no longer going to work with Topps, then all is lost.
Regardless, this is a blow to Topps for sure. How much of an impact, though, remains to be seen.
This should make one specific blogger extremely happy though. And he knows who he is.
Sincerely,
JayBee Anama
4 comments:
Topps could be the Fleer Company of the 60's and 70's and make NFL logo cards...maybe in action cards??
They should just make an all Randall Cunningham set.
Sigh, I really hate the licensing wars . . . in both sports video games and card collecting. Just let everyone make anything. Done.
From 1970-1981, Topps did not have an agreement with NFL properties so no NFL logo's appeared on Topps Football cardS. Between, I think from 1976 to 1988, Fleer owned the license to NFL Logo so you had Fleer NFL action cards with no mention of the players on the card. In 1992, players such as Dan Marino, Jim Kelly, Lawrence Taylor, Deion Sanders and Brett Farve somehow opted out of the players associations agreement with the card company. If you recall, these players did not appear in Upper Deck, Fleer and Topps brands (They later appeared in update sets for UD and Topps as some sore of agreement was worked out with them).
It is possible that Topps could strike a deal with NFL properties and acquire the rights to the logo's and then individually sign top players and rookies. Could you imagine 2010 UD and Panini football cards without Tom Brady, Peyton Manning or Tim Tebow in their sets.
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