Altenar Files Lawsuit Against Sportradar Over Alleged US Sports Data Access Restrictions

Sports technology provider Altenar has formally initiated legal proceedings against industry competitor Sportradar, alleging that the latter's data access policies are impeding its entry into the United States market. The complaint was lodged with the District Court of New Jersey on Tuesday, March 31.

At the heart of Altenar's legal challenge is the assertion that Sportradar's strategic alliances with major U.S. sports organizations, including the National Basketball Association (NBA), National Hockey League (NHL), and Major League Baseball (MLB), grant it an insurmountable advantage. Altenar contends that these exclusive partnerships enable Sportradar to deploy its products and services effectively, while simultaneously creating a significant barrier for other providers like itself.

The legal dispute unfolds against a backdrop of a prior collaborative relationship between Altenar and Sportradar. Altenar's filing indicates that Sportradar significantly strengthened its market position following the repeal of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) in 2018, securing exclusive rights to league data. Crucially, Altenar alleges that Sportradar had previously committed to furnishing access to U.S.-specific data through a separate agreement post-PASPA repeal – a pledge that, according to Altenar, was never fulfilled. This proposed agreement was distinct from global data provisions.

Altenar argues that this lack of access to what it terms 'essential input' is directly preventing it from launching its services within the United States. Despite substantial investment in the necessary infrastructure for a U.S. market rollout, Altenar states it cannot advance its plans. Without this critical data, the company claims it cannot adequately demonstrate its product capabilities to prospective clients and operators, thereby hindering its commercial viability.

Further intensifying its claims, Altenar asserts that Sportradar wields considerable influence over the sports data value chain and is potentially leveraging this control to unfairly favor its own operations. The plaintiff posits that there is no legitimate commercial rationale for denying Altenar access to this data, beyond safeguarding Sportradar's dominant market standing. This, Altenar suggests, points to anti-competitive practices.

In response to the accusations, Sportradar has maintained a limited public stance. The company has acknowledged its disagreement with the allegations and stated its intention to undertake all requisite procedural actions to address the lawsuit through the legal system.