PANDA Interactive Sues Genius Sports & Sportradar for Anti-Competitive Conduct in Sports Betting Market
PANDA Interactive has filed amended complaints against Genius Sports (NYSE: GENI) and Sportradar, expanding its patent infringement lawsuit to include antitrust claims. The complaint alleges that both companies are engaging in anti-competitive practices by:
- Unlawfully tying access to exclusive official sports data with their betting technology
- Coercing sportsbooks into using their technology to access real-time league data
- Controlling data through exclusive agreements with major sports leagues (NBA, NFL, NHL, MLB, NCAA)
The lawsuit, originally filed in October 2023, accused the defendants of infringing PANDA's patents for ultra-low latency, interactive sports streaming and betting technology. PANDA is seeking a court order to stop these practices and pursuing damages for harm caused by the alleged unlawful conduct.
PANDA Interactive ha presentato denunce modificate contro Genius Sports (NYSE: GENI) e Sportradar, ampliando la sua causa per violazione di brevetto per includere anche accuse di antitrust. La denuncia sostiene che entrambe le aziende stiano attuando pratiche anti-competitive mediante:
- Illegittima combinazione dell'accesso ai dati sportivi ufficiali esclusivi con la loro tecnologia di scommesse
- Coercizione delle agenzie di scommesse ad utilizzare la loro tecnologia per accedere ai dati di lega in tempo reale
- Controllo dei dati attraverso accordi esclusivi con le principali leghe sportive (NBA, NFL, NHL, MLB, NCAA)
La causa, originariamente presentata nell'ottobre 2023, accusa i convenuti di violare i brevetti di PANDA per la tecnologia di streaming sportivo interattivo a bassa latenza. PANDA sta cercando un'ordinanza del tribunale per fermare queste pratiche e perseguire danni per il danno causato dalla presunta condotta illecita.
PANDA Interactive ha presentado denuncias modificadas contra Genius Sports (NYSE: GENI) y Sportradar, ampliando su demanda por infracción de patente para incluir reclamos antimonopolio. La denuncia alega que ambas compañías están participando en prácticas anticompetitivas al:
- Unir ilegalmente el acceso a datos deportivos oficiales exclusivos con su tecnología de apuestas
- Coaccionar a las casas de apuestas para que usen su tecnología para acceder a datos de liga en tiempo real
- Controlar los datos a través de acuerdos exclusivos con las principales ligas deportivas (NBA, NFL, NHL, MLB, NCAA)
La demanda, presentada originalmente en octubre de 2023, acusó a los demandados de infringir las patentes de PANDA para tecnología de transmisión y apuestas deportivas interactivas de ultra baja latencia. PANDA está buscando una orden judicial para detener estas prácticas y persigue daños por el perjuicio causado por la supuesta conducta ilegal.
PANDA Interactive는 Genius Sports (NYSE: GENI)와 Sportradar에 대해 수정된 고소장을 제출하여 특허 침해 소송을 독점 금지 주장으로 확대했습니다. 고소장은 두 회사가 다음과 같은 반경쟁적 관행을 하고 있다고 주장합니다:
- 그들의 베팅 기술과 독점적인 공식 스포츠 데이터 접근을 불법적으로 결합
- 스포츠북이 실시간 리그 데이터에 접근하기 위해 그들의 기술을 사용하도록 강요
- 주요 스포츠 리그(NBA, NFL, NHL, MLB, NCAA)와의 독점 계약을 통해 데이터 통제
2023년 10월에 처음 제기된 이 소송은 피고들이 PANDA의 초저지연 인터랙티브 스포츠 스트리밍 및 베팅 기술 특허를 침해했다고 주장합니다. PANDA는 이러한 관행을 중지시키기 위한 법원 명령을 요청하고 있으며, 주장된 불법 행위로 인한 피해에 대한 배상을 추구하고 있습니다.
PANDA Interactive a déposé des plaintes modifiées contre Genius Sports (NYSE: GENI) et Sportradar, élargissant sa poursuite pour violation de brevet pour inclure des allégations antitrust. La plainte allègue que les deux entreprises s'engagent dans des pratiques anticoncurrentielles en :
- Liant illégalement l'accès à des données sportives officielles exclusives avec leur technologie de paris
- Coercant les bookmakers à utiliser leur technologie pour accéder aux données de ligue en temps réel
- Contrôlant les données par le biais d'accords exclusifs avec les principales ligues sportives (NBA, NFL, NHL, MLB, NCAA)
La poursuite, initialement déposée en octobre 2023, accuse les défendeurs d'avoir enfreint les brevets de PANDA pour la technologie de diffusion sportive interactive à faible latence. PANDA demande une ordonnance du tribunal pour mettre fin à ces pratiques et poursuit des dommages-intérêts pour le préjudice causé par la conduite illégale présumée.
PANDA Interactive hat geänderte Klagen gegen Genius Sports (NYSE: GENI) und Sportradar eingereicht und die Patentverletzungsklage um wettbewerbsrechtliche Ansprüche erweitert. Die Klage behauptet, dass beide Unternehmen wettbewerbswidrige Praktiken anwenden, indem sie:
- Den Zugang zu exklusiven offiziellen Sportdaten rechtswidrig mit ihrer Wetttechnologie verknüpfen
- Sportwettenanbieter zwingen, ihre Technologie zu verwenden, um auf Echtzeit-Ligadaten zuzugreifen
- Daten durch exklusive Vereinbarungen mit großen Sportligen (NBA, NFL, NHL, MLB, NCAA) kontrollieren
Die Klage, die ursprünglich im Oktober 2023 eingereicht wurde, beschuldigt die Beklagten, die Patente von PANDA für interaktive Sportübertragungstechnologie mit ultra-niedriger Latenz verletzt zu haben. PANDA strebt eine gerichtliche Verfügung an, um diese Praktiken zu stoppen, und fordert Schadensersatz für die durch das angeblich rechtswidrige Verhalten verursachten Schäden.
- Current control of exclusive data rights from major sports leagues
- Strong market position in sports betting technology sector
- Legal challenges could impact GENI's business model and market position
- Potential court-ordered changes to GENI's current business practices
- Risk of monetary damages if lawsuit succeeds
- Allegations of anti-competitive conduct could affect relationships with sports leagues
Insights
The amended complaint against Genius Sports represents a significant legal challenge that goes beyond standard patent infringement. By adding antitrust claims, PANDA Interactive has escalated this case into potential Sherman Act territory, targeting the fundamental business architecture of sports data licensing.
The core antitrust allegation involves illegal tying arrangements - where Genius allegedly forces sportsbooks to purchase their technology solutions as a condition for accessing exclusive sports data. Such arrangements face heightened scrutiny under antitrust law when implemented by companies with substantial market power in the "tying" product (official data).
For this claim to succeed, PANDA must demonstrate that: (1) Genius possesses significant market power in the official data market; (2) two distinct products are being tied together; (3) buyers are effectively coerced; and (4) the arrangement forecloses a substantial portion of the technology solutions market.
Genius Sports' exclusive partnerships with major leagues create a naturally concentrated market structure that could be viewed as conferring market power. However, Genius will likely argue that their integrated solutions represent efficiency-enhancing bundling rather than anti-competitive tying.
The combination of patent and antitrust claims creates a strategically potent legal approach - even if one theory fails, the other might succeed. For Genius investors, this represents material litigation risk that could potentially require restructuring of core business practices beyond mere monetary damages.
This lawsuit strikes at the heart of the sports betting data ecosystem, challenging the vertical integration model that has defined Genius Sports' growth strategy. The company's exclusive data rights with major leagues constitute its primary competitive advantage and the foundation of its
The industry has long operated on a tiered access model where official data rights holders (primarily Genius and Sportradar) leverage their exclusivity to sell comprehensive technology stacks. This model has allowed Genius to expand beyond pure data provision into higher-margin services including streaming, marketing, and integrity tools.
If PANDA's lawsuit succeeds in forcing separation between data access and technology provision, it would fundamentally alter Genius's revenue composition. The company would need to compete purely on technology merit against numerous specialized providers rather than leveraging data exclusivity as a competitive moat.
More concerning for Genius is that this case could embolden other technology vendors to pursue similar claims or encourage sportsbook operators to resist bundled offerings. The lawsuit reflects growing industry tension around data access models as the US sports betting market matures.
For investors, this introduces structural uncertainty beyond typical litigation risk. While financial damages represent one concern, the more significant long-term risk involves potential court-mandated changes to business practices that could permanently alter Genius's growth trajectory and margin profile in its most important growth market.
Amended Complaint Details Market Manipulation & Anti-Competitive Practices That Restrict Industry Competition
This antitrust action builds on PANDA’s original lawsuit, filed in October 2023, which accused the Defendants of willfully infringing PANDA’s foundational patents for ultra-low latency, interactive sports streaming and betting technology. The expanded claims allege that Genius Sports and Sportradar have engaged—and continue to engage—in anticompetitive conduct. This includes coercing sportsbooks into using their technology as a condition for accessing essential, real-time league data, which they exclusively control through long-term agreements with all major sports leagues, including the NBA, NFL, NHL, MLB, NCAA, and others.
"The Defendants’ bullying takes bad behavior to new heights—illegally using our own patented technology against us by packaging it with their platform, tying it to their exclusive data, and effectively shutting the door to fair competition,” said PANDA Interactive’s Chairman, Donald Schupak.
PANDA is seeking a court order preventing Genius Sports and Sportradar from engaging in further anticompetitive practices. Additionally, the company is pursuing damages for the ongoing and accelerating harm caused by their unlawful conduct.
"The facts speak for themselves—this action is a necessary response. Many in the industry have raised concerns about how Genius Sports and Sportradar operate, and their strong-arm tactics have coerced the market at the expense of all layers of sport,” said Kevin April, CEO of PANDA Interactive. “Their unchecked dominance has persisted for far too long. The future of sports betting should be driven by innovation and competition, not control and coercion."
For years, the Defendants’ exclusionary practices have blocked new competitors and forced sportsbooks and media companies into restrictive technology deals, leaving them with no real choice. This has created an unfair system where companies are backed into agreements that benefit only those who control access to essential data—Genius Sports and Sportradar.
“No company should have its own proprietary technology used against it to reinforce an anti-competitive scheme,” said Andrew Schupak, PANDA Interactive’s Chief Strategy Officer. “A fair and open market fosters competition, drives progress, and benefits everyone—sportsbooks, media companies, and consumers alike. This case is about leveling the playing field for everyone.”
PANDA is represented in these cases by King & Spalding LLP.
About SPORTSCASTR INC (d/b/a PANDA Interactive)
Founded in 2016, SportsCastr Inc. (d/b/a PANDA Interactive) develops next-gen technology that enables sportsbooks, sports media, leagues, and betting affiliates to drive engagement and revenue by enhancing their content with real-time, actionable betting odds and interactive social features.
The company’s flagship product, PANDA Studio, is a turnkey, enterprise-grade Watch & Bet platform that lets viewers watch live or on-demand events enhanced with in-stream betting and commerce. The company also develops PANDA CUB, an AdTech solution for sports media and betting affiliates that uses AI to automatically scan articles for betting-related keywords, such as team & player names, and enhance them with real-time odds and geo-targeted affiliate links from all major sportsbooks.
For more information, visit https://pandainteractive.com.
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media@pandainteractive.com
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Source: PANDA Interactive
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