SportsCastr Inc. (PANDA Interactive) has filed amended complaints against Genius Sports and Sportradar, adding antitrust claims to its already ongoing patent infringement lawsuit.
PANDA alleges that both companies have attempted to pursue anti-competitive practices through the combination of exclusive official sports data with their proprietary betting technology.
This legal action expands upon PANDA’s original lawsuit, filed in October 2023, which accused Genius Sports and Sportradar of willfully infringing upon its patents for ultra-low latency, interactive sports streaming and betting technology.
The newly added antitrust claims argue that both defendants have engaged in exclusionary practices by coercing sportsbooks into using their betting platforms as a prerequisite for accessing real-time sports data.
These practices, PANDA asserts, have created an unfair marketplace, limiting innovation and restricting industry competition.
PANDA Interactive’s Chairman, Donald Schupak stated that “the Defendants’ bullying takes bad behavior to new heights” claiming that these companies are “illegally using our own patented technology against us by packaging it with their platform” which is preventing fair competition.
By controlling access to this essential real-time data, the companies have allegedly manipulated the market, forcing sportsbooks and media companies into restrictive contracts that leave them with no alternative providers.
Because of this PANDA Interactive is seeking a court order to prevent Genius Sports and Sportradar from engaging in further anticompetitive conduct.
Additionally, the company is pursuing financial damages for the alleged economic harm caused by these actions. PANDA argues that these exclusionary tactics have stifled competition in the sports betting industry and prevented new entrants from innovating and competing fairly.
Kevin April, CEO of PANDA Interactive, emphasized the significance of this lawsuit, by suggesting that “the facts speak for themselves—this action is a necessary response.”
He also goes on to suggest that PANDA isn’t the only company skeptical of the Defendants with “many in the industry [raising] 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.”
PANDA Interactive’s Chief Strategy Officer, Andrew Schupak, echoed this sentiment, stating, “a fair and open market fosters competition, drives progress, and benefits everyone.”
Update 05/03 – A spokesperson for Sportradar said: “Like most commercial enterprises, we do not comment on pending litigation matters – even unfounded litigation. That said, we can assure you that we operate our business in compliance with existing laws and regulations. We are confident in our defense of this matter and intend to defend these allegations vigorously.”
