26-cv-12974 | NBA's Second Case in a Week: Team Merchandise Sellers Should Check

Case overview

• Plaintiff: NBA Properties, Inc. (the NBA’s trademark licensing company)
• Court: U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
• Filed: October 21, 2026
• Status: Filed. The plaintiff also filed a “Leave to File” procedural document the same day, which in Schedule A cases is typically used to seek leave to file the defendant list and other materials under seal.

NBA Properties also filed a Schedule A case in the same court last Friday, October 16 (26-cv-12728). The Knicks’ parent MSG Sports filed a similar case earlier; see our alert.

The complaint and Schedule A defendant list are not yet public; the rights and products at issue will be updated.

What may happen next

Schedule A plaintiffs usually move for a TRO within days of filing. Once granted, marketplaces freeze defendants’ funds. If your store is frozen in the coming days and your products relate to this brand, this case is a likely source.

Seller checklist

• Check for jerseys, caps, posters, stickers, and phone cases bearing the NBA logo, team names, or team logos
• Check whether titles or keywords use team or player names to attract traffic
• Around the start of the season, team merchandise sales and enforcement both rise; review listings now

Already frozen?

Keep the platform notice, emails from plaintiff’s counsel, affected listings, and sales records. Hold off on replying to the plaintiff or signing anything, and have counsel review the case. See: Store Frozen by a TRO: The First 72 Hours.

Sources

• CourtListener public docket: 26-cv-12974