Video Games EA Sports settles suits, thousands of players eligible for money - Page 2

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

-King- · 09-27-2013, 06:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KILLER_CLOWN

It isn't them, this is someone with a different name and one that really does NOT look like you. The only thing that makes them your likeness may be the number they wear. This shit is really reeruned.

You CLEARLY don't know what you're talking about
Posted via Mobile Device

Imon Yourside · 09-27-2013, 06:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by -King-

You CLEARLY don't know what you're talking about
Posted via Mobile Device

I've played these games and I have seen what these computer models look like and they aren't even close to a likeness. They don't bear the same names nor features. Are you saying if they have similar stats that constitutes a likeness? Also of note i'm not a fan of EA at all, but this is beyond ludicrous.

-King- · 09-27-2013, 07:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KILLER_CLOWN

I've played these games and I have seen what these computer models look like and they aren't even close to a likeness. They don't bear the same names nor features. Are you saying if they have similar stats that constitutes a likeness? Also of note i'm not a fan of EA at all, but this is beyond ludicrous.

So you think race, height, weight, handedness and playing attributes are coincidental and are purely things EA made up?
Posted via Mobile Device

Imon Yourside · 09-27-2013, 07:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by -King-

So you think race, height, weight, handedness and playing attributes are coincidental and are purely things EA made up?
Posted via Mobile Device

I think they go through painstaking detail to make sure they aren't alike. I haven't scrutinized the football version like I did the basketball but the NCAA BB game models were way off on everything but stats.

duncan_idaho · 09-27-2013, 07:27 AM

This shouldn't be the death of college football video games.

Sure, it affects the person who wants to buy it out of the box and play it that way, but everyone I know who plays NCAA football always downloads a roster file from someone that updates the rosters, adds names, changes player grades, etc.

There are enough online freaks obsessed with college football that a smart company would realize they can put out a product (with the licensed stuff from the University - stadium, team names and traditions, fight song, etc.) with generalized and random information about players (autogenerate random names AND numbers for players in the 'box' version), and people will still buy it.

-King- · 09-27-2013, 07:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KILLER_CLOWN

I think they go through painstaking detail to make sure they aren't alike. I haven't scrutinized the football version like I did the basketball but the NCAA BB game models were way off on everything but stats.

They're strikingly similar until you get to the bottom of the roster players. And even then those players are off by only one attribute usually.
http://www.sbnation.com/college-foot...all-14-players

http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2...l#incart_river
Posted via Mobile Device

Imon Yourside · 09-27-2013, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by -King-

They're strikingly similar until you get to the bottom of the roster players. And even then those players are off by only one attribute usually.
http://www.sbnation.com/college-foot...all-14-players

http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2...l#incart_river
Posted via Mobile Device

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?

-King- · 09-27-2013, 07:39 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?

EA should sue the NCAA?
Posted via Mobile Device

A Salt Weapon · 09-27-2013, 07:47 AM

I consider this karma for ea releasing crappy versions of madden ever since they bought exclusive rights.

Imon Yourside · 09-27-2013, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by -King-

EA should sue the NCAA?
Posted via Mobile Device

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

vailpass · 09-27-2013, 08:11 AM

What do they get? $100 each?

Imon Yourside · 09-27-2013, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A Salt Weapon

I consider this karma for ea releasing crappy versions of madden ever since they bought exclusive rights.

**** KARMA, **** EA AND **** EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS!

Not that I feel strongly about it or anything.

**The Franchise** · 09-27-2013, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

This shouldn't be the death of college football video games.

Sure, it affects the person who wants to buy it out of the box and play it that way, but everyone I know who plays NCAA football always downloads a roster file from someone that updates the rosters, adds names, changes player grades, etc.

There are enough online freaks obsessed with college football that a smart company would realize they can put out a product (with the licensed stuff from the University - stadium, team names and traditions, fight song, etc.) with generalized and random information about players (autogenerate random names AND numbers for players in the 'box' version), and people will still buy it.

Problem #1.

http://espn.go.com/college-football/...-football-game

Quote:

The Southeastern Conference, Big Ten and Pac-12 have joined the NCAA in announcing they will no longer license their conference trademarks in the EA Sports NCAA football video game.

The development comes a month after the NCAA said it would not license its trademarks, either. That ruling, however, allowed each individual institution and conference to license its trademarks with EA Sports for future college football games.

"Each school makes its own individual decision regarding whether or not to license their trademarks for use in the EA Sports game[s]," the SEC said in a statement. "The Southeastern Conference has chosen not to do so moving forward.

NCAA Football games are dead.

'Hamas' Jenkins · 09-27-2013, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by -King-

Why?
Posted via Mobile Device

He was on the 94-95 UCLA Bruins and he originated this lawsuit.

Rudy tossed tigger's salad · 09-27-2013, 09:44 AM

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

09-26-2013, 03:57 PM
Imon Yourside WhatUneed2Hear Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: AllSoulsMatter Casino cash: $-1086819	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: 47,612

09-27-2013, 07:27 AM	#20
duncan_idaho M-I-Z-Z-O-U Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Kansas City Casino cash: $-2169692	This shouldn't be the death of college football video games. Sure, it affects the person who wants to buy it out of the box and play it that way, but everyone I know who plays NCAA football always downloads a roster file from someone that updates the rosters, adds names, changes player grades, etc. There are enough online freaks obsessed with college football that a smart company would realize they can put out a product (with the licensed stuff from the University - stadium, team names and traditions, fight song, etc.) with generalized and random information about players (autogenerate random names AND numbers for players in the 'box' version), and people will still buy it. __________________ "You gotta love livin', cause dying is a pain in the ass." ---- Sinatra
Posts: 22,450

09-27-2013, 07:47 AM	#24
A Salt Weapon Starter Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Alaska Casino cash: $-870000	I consider this karma for ea releasing crappy versions of madden ever since they bought exclusive rights. __________________ If two wrongs don't make a right, try three.
Posts: 215

09-27-2013, 08:11 AM	#26
vailpass Psycho Bag Of Squanch Join Date: Sep 2001 Casino cash: $9594244	What do they get? $100 each? __________________ “Education is a weapon whose effect depends on who holds it in his hands and at whom it is aimed.” Joseph Stalin
Posts: 69,591

09-27-2013, 09:44 AM	#30
Rudy tossed tigger's salad Better than Nelson Join Date: Mar 2003 Casino cash: $10000400	The NCAA gameplay was terrible anyway. They hadn't changed it in years.
Posts: 17,356