Major League Baseball has filed suit against Upper Deck in Manhattan district court, charging Upper Deck with trademark infringement for using its logos on trading cards, according to Reuters.  Specifically the complaint charges that Upper Deck has distributed “unauthorized” Signature Stars and Ultimate Collection trading cards and is “on the verge” of distributing other "unauthorized" card lines with sport and team logos.  Major League Baseball is seeking to halt sales and to recover damages. 

The lawsuit against Upper Deck comes roughly six months after Major League Baseball reversed a nearly 50-year-old multiple licensee policy and awarded the exclusive rights to make baseball cards featuring its marks to Topps (see "Topps Gets MLB Exclusive").  Upper Deck has an agreement with the Major League Baseball Players Association, which gives it the rights to use players’ likenesses.  In its complaint Major League Baseball also contends that Upper Deck remains in default on some $2.4 million in fees owed to MLB.

The 2010 Upper Deck Signature Stars Baseball packs do feature the phrase: “NOT Authorized by Major League Baseball or its Teams.”