How to obtain a license to sell NFL products?

I would like to sell all sports product from NFL, NHL, NBA, MLB. How do i obtain a licence from all these leagues? If I buy from a wholesaler that allready has a licence, do I need to obtain one? Iam looking to open up a retail store and sell online as I think I have found a niche in my area.

Hi sburgess,

Here's something that might help answer a few of your questions:

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For the others, like NBA, they offer volume discounts only through their authorized stores. It would also be best for you to contact them and ask what you need to do to become a reseller

Here's one more link, a really good place to find out about requirements for selling specific brands, please try and have a read:

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Hope that helps :)

Thanks for your help richelle. Say I buy merchandise from a wholesaler that allready has a licence and its all legit product, do I need a licenece?

Hi sburgess,

I'm not quite sure but I don't think so. So long as you have the necessary documentation to prove that the items you're selling a legit and come from an authorized distributor you should be fine.

But to be sure, trying asking the authorized distributor about it and then take it from there.

Cheers! :)

There are ways to get around the license thing.

If you list the company as Eagles instead of Philadelphia Eagles you have avoided a lot of problems.

Further, if you are making your own items to sell, simply alter the color of the item slightly.

A lot of mall stores do this which is why in some stores you never see the full name like Miami Dolphins but you see just Dolphins.

You dodnt need a license if the product is aleady licensed such as deadstock like old wuperbowl shirts or something like that but if you infringe in any way on trademark than your listings will be removed an dyou could be suspended .

As far as I know from dealing with collegiate licensing, you only need it if you are the manufacturer of the product. For example, if you are a screen printer and want to use a NFL, NBA, etc. logo and/or likeness, you have to obtain a license to do so. However, to resale something such as a NFL jersey, Reebok (the manufacturer) has already obtained the license and you are just a reseller. I would mainly insure that you only buy Officially Licensed merchandise in order to protect yourself. In other words, don't buy a bunch of non-Reebok NFL jerseys from Hong Kong.....those aren't official.

As far as I know from dealing with collegiate licensing, you only need it if you are the manufacturer of the product. For example, if you are a screen printer and want to use a NFL, NBA, etc. logo and/or likeness, you have to obtain a license to do so. However, to resale something such as a NFL jersey, Reebok (the manufacturer) has already obtained the license and you are just a reseller. I would mainly insure that you only buy Officially Licensed merchandise in order to protect yourself. In other words, don't buy a bunch of non-Reebok NFL jerseys from Hong Kong.....those aren't official.

Great and info you said it better than i could -- another point is if you make something that lloks like a eagle logo but you leave the tem city off - it can still be infringing if it is similar .

Thanks for your help guys. So basicly, if I buy any brand from any supplier that allready has a licence, Iam free to distribute if as long as I dont change it in anyway?

Bingo, the manufacturer has already paid the copyright holder a fee to manufacturer under licence.

You are permitted to sell the product, just so long as you are sourcing the product legally and selling a genuine licenced product, and not a fake!

Bingo, the manufacturer has already paid the copyright holder a fee to manufacturer under licence.

You are permitted to sell the product, just so long as you are sourcing the product legally and selling a genuine licenced product, and not a fake!

Fudjj. Your 100% spot on with what you say.

Yes , the NFL and MLB have already lost or dropped cases where people bought Licensed fabric and made Noveltys like tissue box covers and other thing they didnt manufacture- they pulled the listings off of ebay but they inturn violated cosumers rights as if you are gonna license the fabric you cannot control wht they do with it and it is violation of First Sale Doctrine.

My hometown high-school team has the same colors and logo as one of the college teams, so we often purchase those items that aren''t marked with their name...
ANYWAY i am wanting to order these products myself and resale them locally, but can not find a supplier (with more variety)... do i go directly to that college?
I also have considered handcrafting various items with the same logo. Does this constitute the need to be licensed?

Hi chambersunlimited,

Going directly to the school might be a good idea since officially it is their merchandise. You might even get to make a deal of becoming an authorized distributor for that particular college's merchandise.

Using an established logo or remaking it without permission from the Logo owners might spell trouble for you. It might be best that you get in touch with the school to discuss your options of reproducing items bearing their logo.

Hope this helps.