SAN JOSE (CN) - A federal judge preliminarily approved a $4.75 million settlement of class action claims that the NFL's exclusive license with Reebok for team apparel violated antitrust law.
Lead plaintiff Michael Villa sued the NFL and Reebok in 2012, claiming the licensing deal stifled competition and created a monopoly.
U.S. District Judge Edward Davila preliminarily approved the settlement on April 21.
The nationwide class includes all people who made an "eligible purchase" of NFL team apparel.
An eligible purchase is a "purchase made in California at retail for personal use and not for resale or other commercial gain" of a licensed jersey, hat or pair of shoes bearing NFL intellectual property.
Davila will hold a final approval hearing of the settlement on Nov. 17.
Neither the class counsel nor the NFL immediately responded to an email requesting comment Wednesday afternoon.
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