On June 29, 2009, the U.S. Supreme Court granted American Needle, Inc.’s petition for certiorari to review the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision in American Needle, Inc. v. National Football League. The decision to grant the petition follows a string of other recent high-profile U.S. cases visiting the issue of antitrust and professional sport. American Needle is a significant departure from U.S. Supreme Court precendent holding leagues are a type of joint venture between member teams and their conduct is subject to a "rule of reason" analysis.
