Kingray, Inc. v. National Basketball Ass'n

ORDER RE: (1) DIRECTV, INC.’S MOTION TO DISMISS; AND (2) NBA DEFENDANTS’ MOTION TO DISMISS

This matter comes before the Court on Defendants’ motions to dismiss the First Amended Complaint. The Court finds these motions suitable for determination without oral argument pursuant to Civil Local Rule 7.1(d)(1).

FACTUAL BACKGROUND

Plaintiffs, individuals and commercial establishments, have filed this lawsuit on behalf of commercial and residential purchasers of the “NBA League Pass,” the broadcast of a bundled package of NBA basketball games. (First Amended Complaint (“FAC”) ¶¶ 1, 55.) Plaintiffs purchased this subscription through DirecTV, a provider of satellite television programming. (FAC ¶¶ 21, 33.) Plaintiffs allege the NBA League Pass violates federal and state antitrust laws and California’s Unfair Competition Act. Defendants are the National Basketball Association, Inc. (“NBA”), NBA Properties, Inc. (“NBA Properties”), DirecTV, and several professional basketball organizations. (FAC ¶¶ 8-17.) These basketball organizations are: Chicago Professional Sports Limited Partnership d/b/a Chicago Bulls; LAC Basketball Club, Inc. d/b/a Los Angeles Clippers; Royal Kings Limited…