MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL (MLB) 2010 EXCLUSIVE LICENSING ARRANGEMENT WITH THE TOPPS COMPANY

Major League Baseball, in August of 2009, announced  an EXCLUSIVE licensing arrangement with The Topps Company. The multiyear deal, which went into effect on Jan. 1, 2010, gives Topps exclusivity on MLB, Jewel Event and club trademarks, logos and other intellectual property for use on baseball cards, stickers and other product categories featuring MLB players. The exclusive arrangement ends MLB's 20-year relationship with Upper Deck, the other main player in the market -- which retains licensing rights from the MLB Players Association. That reportedly enables Upper Deck to continue producing cards with players' images -- but team logos and such are out. 

However, on March 3,  2010,  Upper Deck and Major League Baseball mutually agreed to settle the lawsuit brought by Major League Baseball against Upper Deck. Per the terms of the settlement agreement, Upper Deck will no longer be producing MLB products for the 2010 calendar year. Any items not released to date will not be produced or released.

The following products/events have therefore been cancelled:
      2010 Upper Deck Goudey Baseball
      2010 Upper Deck SPX Baseball
      2010 Upper Deck SP Authentic Baseball
      2010 Upper Deck "National Packtime" Promotion

 However, as part of the settlement, Upper Deck can and will continue to sell three recently released baseball products currently on store shelves: 2009 Signature Stars, 2009 Ultimate Collection and 2010 Upper Deck Series One.