History of licensing rights for basketball cards. 

Sure, here is some content on why it is important to only collect cards made by manufacturers with licensing rights:

Introduction

The trading card hobby is a multi-billion dollar industry, and it is only getting bigger. With so many different manufacturers and products on the market, it can be hard to know where to start. One of the most important factors to consider when collecting cards is whether or not the manufacturer has licensing rights.

What are licensing rights?

Licensing rights are agreements between a manufacturer and a league or organization that grant the manufacturer the right to use the league's or organization's intellectual property. This includes things like team logos, player names, and likenesses.

Why are licensing rights important?

There are a few reasons why licensing rights are important for collectors. First, it ensures that the cards you are collecting are authentic. When a manufacturer has licensing rights, they have to adhere to strict guidelines set by the league or organization. This means that the cards will be accurately produced and will feature the correct logos, names, and likenesses.

Second, licensing rights can help to protect the value of your collection. If you ever decide to sell your cards, they will be more valuable if they are from a manufacturer with licensing rights. This is because collectors know that these cards are authentic and that they have been produced to the highest standards.

What are the benefits of collecting cards from manufacturers with licensing rights?

There are several benefits to collecting cards from manufacturers with licensing rights. These include:

• Authentic cards: As mentioned above, licensing rights ensure that the cards you are collecting are authentic. This means that you can be confident that the cards you have are the real deal and that they have not been counterfeited.

• Protects value: As mentioned above, licensing rights can help to protect the value of your collection. If you ever decide to sell your cards, they will be more valuable if they are from a manufacturer with licensing rights. This is because collectors know that these cards are authentic and that they have been produced to the highest standards.

• Wider selection: Manufacturers with licensing rights have access to a wider selection of players and teams. This means that you will have a wider variety of cards to choose from when you are collecting.

• Better quality: Manufacturers with licensing rights are typically able to produce higher quality cards. This is because they have access to better materials and printing techniques.

If you are serious about collecting trading cards, it is important to only collect cards from manufacturers with licensing rights. This will ensure that your cards are authentic and that they will hold their value over time.

• 1948-1968: Bowman Gum

• 1969-1979: Topps

• 1980-1986: Fleer

• 1986-1996: Fleer and Upper Deck

• 1997-2008: Upper Deck

• 2009-Present: Panini

In 1948, Bowman Gum produced the first NBA basketball cards. Topps took over in 1969 and produced cards until 1979. Fleer entered the market in 1980 and produced cards until 1986, when they partnered with Upper Deck. Upper Deck produced cards on their own from 1997 to 2008. In 2009, Panini acquired the exclusive rights to produce NBA basketball cards.

Panini has been the NBA's exclusive licensee ever since. They have produced some of the most popular NBA basketball cards in recent years, including the Prizm and Select sets. Panini is also the exclusive licensee for the NBA Players Association, which means they can produce cards featuring current NBA players.

The licensing rights to NBA basketball cards have been a hotly contested market in recent years. In 2015, Panini outbid Topps for the exclusive rights to the NFL. This led to Topps losing a significant amount of revenue, and they have since been struggling to compete with Panini.

It remains to be seen who will acquire the NBA's licensing rights when Panini's contract expires in 2025. However, it is clear that the NBA basketball card market is a lucrative one, and there will be plenty of competition for the rights.

Additional tips for collectors

In addition to collecting cards from manufacturers with licensing rights, there are a few other things you can do to protect your collection. These include:

• Store your cards in a safe place: This will help to prevent them from getting damaged.

• Get your cards graded: This will help to determine their value and authenticity.

• Insure your collection: This will protect you in case your cards are lost or stolen.

By following these tips, you can help to ensure that your trading card collection is safe and secure.