CARD MAKERS TO SWATCH THIS ONE CLOSELY: TOPPS FILES SUIT

          N.Y.-based Topps Co. has asked Federal Judge Shira     Scheindlin "to invalidate a trademark held by it rival," CA-     based Upper Deck Co., on a "new type of trading card" called     memorabilia cards, according to David Glovin of BLOOMBERG     NEWS.  Memorabilia cards, which were developed in '96,     feature "pieces" of pro athletes' jerseys, baseballs and      basketballs, and are "randomly inserted into a small     percentage" of trading cards packs.  The lawsuit filed     Friday was in response to Upper Deck's "cease-and-desist     letter" to Topps and other card manufacturers two weeks ago,     claiming that "Upper Deck alone had trademark rights to the     concept of game jersey cards."  But Topps says that it made     "its first foray into the memorabilia card market" in '99     with jersey cards in baseball card sets. Topps has asked     Scheindlin "to rule that no single manufacturer can claim     exclusive rights" to the concept (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 9/8).