USA Today: EA could lose over $1B in NCAA athlete suit

@Grand Kerfuffle

EA seems to have a history for that. Remember their Bobby Kotick remark?

@Grand Kerfuffle

I wonder if the image is also an official statement. Does EA hate Tennessee?

@drumwiz86

It's not just EA.

@MLC

SWTOR is coming out this holiday.. it's shattering all EA preorder records, they don't care about money at this point.

@SirUrza
Up next, EA liquidates and BioWare acquires all of its 2nd party publishers.
EA: "We don't have a billion, we're out of business"

That's a Trump move but I wouldn't put it past them.

@MLC
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-y8ViGvCrL8

@MLC

take that, nibiru ..you.. giant meteor you!

@xXMiraclesXx

Number and likeness. Body type (general height and weight), skin tone, facial features (basketball at least), hair style, playing position, general play style and attributes (fast, slow, etc).

I see this suit as very legitimate. Although to be honest, all the people I know who play NCAA games do so for the career modes, in which you build your own university from scratch. So in that case, the "real" players are out in a few simulated seasons anyway and never seen again.

@SecondTomorrow

Exactly! I remember old skool NBA games have a number 23 player in bulls with no name... Jordan never sued

and the players arent suppose to be paid anyway i thought :P i mean isnt that the whole controvesry with College sports? university are making MILLIONS on their students/players, but all the students/players get in return is a tution thru school in a bullsh!t degree, like humanity, that the coaches recommended; because these majors have basically zero work and any numbnut can pass the coaches dont have to worry about the players' grades.

@sohcahtoa
The people suing are former players whose likenesses are used in games that continue to be available on the market. This is like a child actor suing for rights to their image after they turn 18, so that they get royalties instead of their parents, which I think is totally legitimate.

@Hoops the NCAA hates college players. They are in no way helping anyone out. They are against their athletes and always have been outside of making money. The article title was writtten poorly to where it seems like the NCAA is supporting players. Couldnt be more opposite.

@Hoops

At least they'll have something to choke down eh?

Won't be any of your cash if you're buying their games pre-owned.

@gordogg24p

My respect for EA just shot up

@dtrain1183 they need to unionize and sue both parties. The majority of players will never see an NFl contract and should be compensated for EA making money on their blown out knees and early deaths.

@dtrain1183
EXACTLY. NCAA athletes aren't allowed to be paid for what they do, why is this not encompassed by that rule? I really don't understand what the athletes think they can gain from this, there's no judge in the world that would rule in their favor.

@Fire Walk With Me
They're making video games for the consumer to enjoy about NCAA football and basketball....What are they doing wrong exactly?

Bad troll is bad.

@trinica not paying the kids stupid.

@Mrblonde57
Wikipedia says their total assets for FY 2010 was $4.6 billion, and that they lost around $700 million for FY 2010 too. So if they lose a billion... that's a pretty big hit.

@Mrblonde57
They'll probably just release another Sims 3 expansion and call it a day.

@jrobington
But they should be paid by the NCAA, NOT by suing a video game company that is just trying to appease the consumer. I enjoy the NCAA football/basketball EA franchises, this lawsuit is really selfish on the athletes' part.

And they kind of already ARE paid with scholarships and whatnot....Is free school not enough? Some people would kill to even be able to go to a community college, that's just downright stupid to think that they're entitled to more, especially since they're playing the sport because they WANT to....It's more of an elective than it is a job you know.

@jrobington
Besides, selling merchandise is no different than collecting tuition from students for the courses they are in. Not one bit different.

Bottom line is, the athletes chose to be what they are - that is ALL part of the package deal. If they can't live with that, then maybe they should never have BEEN college athletes to begin with. The problem isn't the NCAA, nor is it EA.....It's the athletes themselves that are bringing about this ridiculous lawsuit.

@trinica
I get where you're coming from, but think about the fact that some of the kids that are in these games never turn pro, and for that matter don't even have a scholarship. This is not common but it's not unheard of for sports like football and baseball, less so for basketball.

I don't think the suit is without merit, especially after the Retired NFLPA suit that was filed (I think) last year. Would it be OK with you if, because you work where you do and are being compensated for your time, it's fair game for your employer to take photos of you and create ads using your likeness without additional compensation? Unless you are a professional model, I'd assume the task would be outside the reasonable scope of your job description - and in my estimation eligible for further compensation.

Do I think it makes a huge difference to the players if they get their $1,000 a pop? Not really, but it will at least force EA to figure out how to keep what's in the game, in the game, and avoid further litigation. Possibly creating a scholarship fund and making donations to it in each players name for the amount owed? Placing the cash in some sort of escrow until the player graduates or leaves school? Obviously, that doesn't help the current case, but could avoid the situation down the road...

Unless NCAA players give up their rights to their likenesses when they fill out their paperwork when entering the school, I don't see how EA has a case.

@ytilanigiroon

well, you can say the same thing about the millions of students that go to college and end up not getting a job when they graduate. because the major that they chose, ends up getting over saturated. but unlike the student athletes that got a full ride and doesn't have to pay back a dime. they end up spending their life paying off student loans, a 30 year mortgage, car payments and supporting a family working 50 hours a week.

@DigitalEmporer
People buy sports games to play as their favorite players. Therefore, the players themselves are the selling point. If EA sells people the right to play as players without paying the actual players, aka making money off of someone else's appeal, then it's understandable if they're miffed.