America's pastime,
even in fantasy

Major League Baseball argued in court yesterday that online fantasy baseball leagues cannot continue to operate without paying licensing fees, reports Globe and Mail.

A panel of three judges at the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals were skeptical that the MLB could take financial control of a game whose players' stats and names are "like a public religion." However, the MLB claims fantasy baseball, a $1.5 billion industry, exploits players by turning them into game pieces.

The court date is set to appeal a lower court judgment last year that allowed St. Louis-based CBC Distribution and Marketing to keep operating without paying the MLB licensing fees.

If the MLB wins, it would in effect make all baseball statistics MLB property, forcing hundreds of fantasy leagues out of business, and potentially compelling other major sports leagues to follow suit.