Video Games EA Sports settles suits, thousands of players eligible for money - Page 3

Imon Yourside · 09-26-2013, 03:57 PM

EA Sports settles suits, thousands of players eligible for money

Man this sucks..no more NCAA football/basketball

Dennis Dodd
Senior College Football Columnist
EA Sports settles suits, thousands of players eligible for money
September 26, 2013 5:23 pm ET

Electronic Arts Inc. and Collegiate Licensing Co. have settled a series of wide-ranging class-action lawsuits on Thursday afternoon regarding college players' likenesses for an undetermined amount, CBSSports.com has learned.

The settlement will affect more than 100,000 current and former college players who have appeared in the basketball and football versions of EA Sports' video games since 2003. It was not immediately clear if the eligibility of current players will be affected by accepting settlement checks.

Prior to the settlement filing, EA announced earlier in the day it would no longer manufacture the popular football game.

“I'm disappointed in that because there should be a game,” said plaintiffs' attorney Eugene Egdorf. “All that has to happen is the NCAA allow players to be paid and there would be a game. This is Step 1 to players being paid that should.

“There will be players who play Saturday who should be paid [for their services] as they should be.”

The settlement affects lawsuits brought by former Rutgers quarterback Ryan Hart, former Nebraska and Arizona State quarterback Sam Keller and former UCLA basketball star O'Bannon. The settlement does not include the NCAA's ongoing battle with O'Bannon and other plaintiffs in the fight over the rights to player likenesses.

Essentially each player who has appeared in the football and basketball games marketed by EA in the last decade – approximately 125,000 men – are eligible for settlement money. According to court documents filed Thursday and obtained by CBSSports.com the settling parties are in the process of preparing documents for the court to approve in order to disburse the money.

CBSSports.com is in the process of asking the NCAA for a rules interpretation. In other words, would the NCAA view that money as jeopardizing current players' amateur status? In such class-action settlements, the monies awarded can range from very little to very large. It depends on how the money is disbursed. But those players will now be compensated by EA using their likenesses in the game without their permission. It is not known yet from the formal settlement if EA is admitting any guilt.

EA annually manufactured the popular college football game which includes the numbers – but not the names – of at least every school in FBS.

EA has maintained throughout that any none of the players' attributes or physical qualities or likenesses is based on an actual player. However, one SB Nation reader found former Florida quarterback Tim Tebow's name in Florida's playbook in the 2010 version of the football game.

As a condition of eligibility, the NCAA requires players to sign a document that guarantees the rights to their likenesses in perpetuity to the association.

Here is some background on the three main plaintiffs – Ryan Hart, Sam Keller, Ed O'Bannon.

The Hart case was filed in New Jersey. O'Bannon and Keller were consolidated in California.

In related news, CBSSports.com confirmed the NCAA is headed to mediation in a landmark concussion case.

http://www.cbssports.com/collegefoot...ible-for-money

**DaneMcCloud** · 09-27-2013, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KILLER_CLOWN

So what is the solution? Kill off the video game? The NFL doesn't have a problem because they own the players rights. I know EA does pay the NCAA to use the team names, so shouldn't they be suing the NCAA?

The solution is licensing.

EA Sports or any game manufacturer receives express permission to use a player's likeness and attributes in return for royalty participation (a percentage of sales).

Players would then have the option to opt in or out. If EA used a similar player to one that opts out, they'd be liable for damages.

EA's had a free ride and there's no doubt their legal department knew it. They gambled and lost.

**The Franchise** · 09-27-2013, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rudy Was Offsides

The NCAA gameplay was terrible anyway. They hadn't changed it in years.

They changed it.....just not for the better.

**DaneMcCloud** · 09-27-2013, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vailpass

What do they get? $100 each?

A settlement number hasn't been announced. But if it affects 125,000 people (as has been reported), $100 each would be $12.5 million for EA.

I have no idea how well those games sold but I doubt they're in the same league as Grand Theft Auto ($800 million in sales its first week for its latest release).

There's also the issue of eligibility if an active player chooses to receive a settlement check.

Seriously, it's time to pay NCAA athletes.

lcarus · 09-27-2013, 10:14 AM

Is this what O'Bannon is suing for?

Or is he suing for earlier NCAA games?

**DaneMcCloud** · 09-27-2013, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lcarus

Is this what O'Bannon is suing for?

Or is he suing for earlier NCAA games?

That doesn't look like O'Bannon at all. He's got blue shoes in the game.

Imon Yourside · 09-27-2013, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lcarus

Is this what O'Bannon is suing for?

Or is he suing for earlier NCAA games?

Ya that does look a lot like him, never played that version though.

Imon Yourside · 09-27-2013, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

A settlement number hasn't been announced. But if it affects 125,000 people (as has been reported), $100 each would be $12.5 million for EA.

I have no idea how well those games sold but I doubt they're in the same league as Grand Theft Auto ($800 million in sales its first week for its latest release).

There's also the issue of eligibility if an active player chooses to receive a settlement check.

Seriously, it's time to pay NCAA athletes.

That's fine, but it should work like Pro where the NCAA sells the rights. I know that will never happen because colleges are trying to get away from the NCAA anyways.

-King- · 09-27-2013, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KILLER_CLOWN

No I meant shouldn't the players be suing the NCAA and not EA?

They are suing the NCAA.

Setsuna · 09-27-2013, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bowener

It won't be, but I wish this were the beginning of a swift death for EA.

Battlefield franchise says

try harder kid.

Imon Yourside · 09-27-2013, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by -King-

They are suing the NCAA.

The end result is no more sports games, it just sucks for everyone involved. These guys won't make shit for money on it anyways so it seems a lose lose for everyone involved.

-King- · 09-27-2013, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KILLER_CLOWN

The end result is no more sports games, it just sucks for everyone involved. These guys won't make shit for money on it anyways so it seems a lose lose for everyone involved.

I don't really think you understand the scope of this lawsuit and the money involved in college football.

Imon Yourside · 09-27-2013, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by -King-

I don't really think you understand the scope of this lawsuit and the money involved in college football.

I do, just saying the money from the video game side won't net much.

Consistent1 · 09-27-2013, 05:32 PM

Go see how hard it is to find Clowney in NCAA 14.

**DaneMcCloud** · 09-27-2013, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KILLER_CLOWN

That's fine, but it should work like Pro where the NCAA sells the rights. I know that will never happen because colleges are trying to get away from the NCAA anyways.

As a condition of eligibility, the NCAA requires players to sign a document that guarantees the rights to their likenesses in perpetuity to the association.

That's the biggest bunch of horseshit I've ever heard of in my entire life.

The NCAA is a joke.

Consistent1 · 09-27-2013, 06:47 PM

I still don't know what to think of it all.

There are all kinds of levels of talent.

I made that comment about Clowney, took out the Madden disc and played 14 with SC.

It is so ****ing obvious who everybody is. Hadn't played for about a week, update shows up.

I was thinking man they jacked this up in a matter of days for liability, but it is just stupid uniform crap.

But when you have a team captain with #7 and a star under him, it's still obvios it's Clowney.

But EA can't pay them all and develop the games.

So, like has been mentioned the NCAA needs to take a hit too if anybody gets paid.

09-26-2013, 03:57 PM
Imon Yourside WhatUneed2Hear Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: AllSoulsMatter Casino cash: $2643181	EA Sports settles suits, thousands of players eligible for money EA Sports settles suits, thousands of players eligible for money Man this sucks..no more NCAA football/basketball Dennis Dodd Senior College Football Columnist EA Sports settles suits, thousands of players eligible for money September 26, 2013 5:23 pm ET Electronic Arts Inc. and Collegiate Licensing Co. have settled a series of wide-ranging class-action lawsuits on Thursday afternoon regarding college players' likenesses for an undetermined amount, CBSSports.com has learned. The settlement will affect more than 100,000 current and former college players who have appeared in the basketball and football versions of EA Sports' video games since 2003. It was not immediately clear if the eligibility of current players will be affected by accepting settlement checks. Prior to the settlement filing, EA announced earlier in the day it would no longer manufacture the popular football game. “I'm disappointed in that because there should be a game,” said plaintiffs' attorney Eugene Egdorf. “All that has to happen is the NCAA allow players to be paid and there would be a game. This is Step 1 to players being paid that should. “There will be players who play Saturday who should be paid [for their services] as they should be.” The settlement affects lawsuits brought by former Rutgers quarterback Ryan Hart, former Nebraska and Arizona State quarterback Sam Keller and former UCLA basketball star O'Bannon. The settlement does not include the NCAA's ongoing battle with O'Bannon and other plaintiffs in the fight over the rights to player likenesses. Essentially each player who has appeared in the football and basketball games marketed by EA in the last decade – approximately 125,000 men – are eligible for settlement money. According to court documents filed Thursday and obtained by CBSSports.com the settling parties are in the process of preparing documents for the court to approve in order to disburse the money. CBSSports.com is in the process of asking the NCAA for a rules interpretation. In other words, would the NCAA view that money as jeopardizing current players' amateur status? In such class-action settlements, the monies awarded can range from very little to very large. It depends on how the money is disbursed. But those players will now be compensated by EA using their likenesses in the game without their permission. It is not known yet from the formal settlement if EA is admitting any guilt. EA annually manufactured the popular college football game which includes the numbers – but not the names – of at least every school in FBS. EA has maintained throughout that any none of the players' attributes or physical qualities or likenesses is based on an actual player. However, one SB Nation reader found former Florida quarterback Tim Tebow's name in Florida's playbook in the 2010 version of the football game. As a condition of eligibility, the NCAA requires players to sign a document that guarantees the rights to their likenesses in perpetuity to the association. Here is some background on the three main plaintiffs – Ryan Hart, Sam Keller, Ed O'Bannon. The Hart case was filed in New Jersey. O'Bannon and Keller were consolidated in California. In related news, CBSSports.com confirmed the NCAA is headed to mediation in a landmark concussion case. http://www.cbssports.com/collegefoot...ible-for-money
Posts: 44,225

09-27-2013, 10:14 AM	#34
lcarus Everybody Lies. Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: 22 Acacia Avenue Casino cash: $1879928	Is this what O'Bannon is suing for? Or is he suing for earlier NCAA games?
Posts: 17,336

09-27-2013, 05:32 PM	#43
Consistent1 _____________ Join Date: Aug 2005 Casino cash: $10004900	Go see how hard it is to find Clowney in NCAA 14.
Posts: 3,096

09-27-2013, 06:47 PM	#45
Consistent1 _____________ Join Date: Aug 2005 Casino cash: $10004900	I still don't know what to think of it all. There are all kinds of levels of talent. I made that comment about Clowney, took out the Madden disc and played 14 with SC. It is so ****ing obvious who everybody is. Hadn't played for about a week, update shows up. I was thinking man they jacked this up in a matter of days for liability, but it is just stupid uniform crap. But when you have a team captain with #7 and a star under him, it's still obvios it's Clowney. But EA can't pay them all and develop the games. So, like has been mentioned the NCAA needs to take a hit too if anybody gets paid.
Posts: 3,096