College Athletes Are More Than a Number, Why We Need to Understand That

[RaychelSnr]

Our friend and Press Row Podcast member Owen Good posted a great article over the weekend harping on EA's stunning admission of guilt of using real players in their NCAA game:

"So I had to laugh when, in response to Ed O'Bannon's notorious lawsuit against the NCAA, Electronic Arts this week filed an "expert study" saying that fewer than 25 percent of football and men's basketball players are identifiable in video games they have published. That's bull****, and it has been from day one.

Electronic Arts' own communications with the College Licensing Company admit that the games are coded and balanced with real-life rosters, and real life players on them. The "study" is not scientific, it is testimony in a civil action, which is to say it is necessarily self-serving. It was entered into the record to limit the size of the potential class action against EA and the NCAA, and/or the scope of the damages—or settlement—the publisher would pay if the players prevail."

The decision on class-action in this case will be made in June -- which will be followed by what is almost certainly going to be a lengthy court process, one which will possibly go all the way to the Supreme Court. We could still be several years to a resolution.

[Irishwhiskey119]

O'Bannon and that no talent douche are probably going to hell.

[Gramps91]

I say just screw it and make college games anyway O'bannon is the only one I've ever heard complain and now thousands of sports gamers like myself are suffering from no college basketball games

[Segagendude]

Re: College Athletes Are More Than a Number, Why We Need to Understand That

"I am not a number, I am a free man!"~Iron Maiden

[Hooe]

Re: College Athletes Are More Than a Number, Why We Need to Understand That

Per usual, Owen Good nails it.

EDIT: for some reason the topic post doesn't link to the Kotaku article in question.

[footballfan41]

it don't matter, it's NOT EA that says NCAA players can't make no money, So lets not blame EA for all this,...Blame NCAA for it, far as i would say Shame on them, n EA keep making the games as you always have,..I think it's all B.S anyway..ONLY reason EA is getting Hammer over this is cause they have All the MONEY!!!!!!!!

[Bolt957]

^This, I agree. If their gonna go after anyone, it should be the NCAA, not EA. They just make the video game, but without the NCAA, it isn't possible. Blame NCAA, not EA.

[mestevo]

Re: College Athletes Are More Than a Number, Why We Need to Understand That

EA is the one using their likeness, violating their right of publicity, not the NCAA.

[smack23011]

No NCAA sold EA those rights and NCAA also says what can and cannot be in the game. I blame the NCAA and their monopoly organization that no one seems to see. But I'm not in favor of paying the college athletes either because more than likely their schooling is being paid for.

[mestevo]

Re: College Athletes Are More Than a Number, Why We Need to Understand That

It's much bigger than all of that, and they aren't coming after just EA, EA is just one of the plantiffs along with the NCAA and it's licensing company.

The plaintiffs' lawyers said that while they are seeking monetary damages on behalf of former athletes, they "do not seek compensation to be paid to current student-athletes while they maintain their eligibility." Rather, they see a system under which "monies generated by the licensing and sale of class members' names, images and likenesses can be temporarily held in trust" until the end of the college playing careers.

In a case that began in 2009, the plaintiffs allege that the defendants violated anti-trust law by conspiring to fix at zero the amount of compensation athletes can receive for the use of their names, images and likenesses in products or media while they are in school. They additionally allege the athletes are required to sign forms under which they relinquish in perpetuity all rights pertaining to the use of the names, images and likenesses in ways including TV contracts, rebroadcasts of games and video game, jersey and other apparel sales.

Under anti-trust law, the statute of limitations on damages is four years back from the date of filing.

Thus, the athletes' lawyers are seeking a portion of the revenues the NCAA and Division I schools and conferences have gotten from TV contracts and from the licensing and royalties related to video-game sales from 2005 to present. Based on expert analysis, the plaintiffs want a 50-50 split of the revenue for telecasts and a one-third split for video games.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2013/01/30/ncaa-obannon-players-lawsuit-name-and-likeness/1877031/

[wallofhate]

Is about saying what can make you look betterin court. Of course it's bull who would tell the truth in court to ruin your argument. This is a smaller issue of a bigger problem of colleges using sales of start player on jerseys programs and so on and so forth. Just like the fan five 30 for 30 they were selling "fab five " socks and niked. The universities are getting money by the barrels for players likeness and and they give our scholarships that can be taken away in am instant

[RaychelSnr]

Is about saying what can make you look betterin court. Of course it's bull who would tell the truth in court to ruin your argument. This is a smaller issue of a bigger problem of colleges using sales of start player on jerseys programs and so on and so forth. Just like the fan five 30 for 30 they were selling "fab five " socks and niked. The universities are getting money by the barrels for players likeness and and they give our scholarships that can be taken away in am instant

Added the original link. Apparently while editing it I didn't notice I took the link out accidentally this morning. FIXED!!

[wallofhate]

I apologize for my spell check and jumping the gun lol

[JerseySuave4]

Clearly they are based on real life counterparts.

[Sausage]

Re: College Athletes Are More Than a Number, Why We Need to Understand That

O'Bannon and that no talent douche are probably going to hell.

Really? A little far I think.