NCAA Will Not Renew EA Sports Contract, NCAA Football Series is Dead in Name Only

[PVarck31]

Re: NCAA Will Not Renew EA Sports Contract, NCAA Football Series is Dead in Name Only

It's important to note that even though EA can still go through the CLC, CLC does not have the rights to everything currently in the game. Conferences such as the PAC-12 and B1G and Bowls such as the Fiesta are not under their umbrella.

I'm interested by this simply because EA is losing money faster than the black knight lost blood in the Holy Grail. I can't believe that they are going to go out of their way to pull in those that do not fall under the CLC's partnership. Even though CLC has said they will work with EA, it doesn't mean that it's going to happen. I would not in the least bit be surprised if this is the last College Football game for a long while.

They just announced there will be a game next year. Next-gen at that.

[Mr2Nice]

Re: NCAA Will Not Renew EA Sports Contract, NCAA Football Series is Dead in Name Only

Jesus. I wish people understood more about the law.

Worse case scenario, Obannon wins a big judgment that is paid out to all current and former college football players. EA and the NCAA appeal. The judgment gets dragged out a few years and either they reach a settlement or the let the appeals process works its way through.

Worse case scenario for the game is EA decides to remove the name editor from the game (If EA is stupid). EA, NCAA and CLC all have the right to sell a CF game featuring college teams, uniforms and stadiums. Thats not gonna stop even if O'bannon wins.

Whats likely to happen IMO is O'bannon and NCAA/EA will settle and EA will stop using accurate numbers and physical characteristics for player rosters. This means the QB for Texas A&M wont be a 6 foot white guy with the #15. He will be a 6'6 black guy with the number 17. The editor will remain because there you cant bring a viable claim based on EA giving people the option of changing the attributes of players.

I see ur point there. So I think you can say goodbye to the editor then. If NCAA and/or EA have to payout to that many kids past & present. That's a huge chunk of cash! I'm sure they won't want to have to deal with anything like that again.

[RaychelSnr]

Re: NCAA Will Not Renew EA Sports Contract, NCAA Football Series is Dead in Name Only

So that doesn't mean they can be sued because of player likeness? You know thats the whole reason this lawsuit is in place right? No ones sueing because the NCAA logo. There sueing because college kids are having to pay for a game that they are in. No one cares about the NCAA logo lol.

The CLC has nothing to do with player likenesses. It (the CLC) is all about school, conference logos, etc. This is simple law stuff and why the CLC has nothing to do with the lawsuit on hand.

[aholbert32]

Re: NCAA Will Not Renew EA Sports Contract, NCAA Football Series is Dead in Name Only

Can U then tell me why The NCAA has broken their agreement with EA? Then why won't the CLC do the same? You think they wanna spend money on lawyers when the NCAA doesn't even wanna do it?

The CLC isnt being sued. The CLC only manages schools marks including uniforms/stadiums/names etc. Suing the CLC would be like suing ESPN for licensing its ESPN mark in a game that features player likenesses. I actually know the lawyer who is defending the case for EA personally (worked with her for 10 yrs) and have spoken to her about this before. O'bannon and Keller's lawyers sued the parties that are most responsible and likely to be held liable. The CLC would not be.

[hazey]

Re: NCAA Will Not Renew EA Sports Contract, NCAA Football Series is Dead in Name Only

I understand the situation with the CLC licensing colleges. What about conferences and bowl games? And the National Championship playoff system in the near future? They could easily do playoffs not related to NCAA. Just wondering if anyone knows if conferences are represented through the NCAA or through the CLC?

[Perfect Zero]

Re: NCAA Will Not Renew EA Sports Contract, NCAA Football Series is Dead in Name Only

They just announced there will be a game next year. Next-gen at that.

So how are you enjoying NBA Elite?

[RaychelSnr]

Re: NCAA Will Not Renew EA Sports Contract, NCAA Football Series is Dead in Name Only

I understand the situation with the CLC licensing colleges. What about conferences and bowl games? And the National Championship playoff system in the near future? They could easily do playoffs not related to NCAA. Just wondering if anyone knows if conferences are represented through the NCAA or through the CLC?

Through the CLC.

If nothing else, gamers are getting a lesson in how little the NCAA matters in most all but the rules of college athletics. Not a huge stretch to see big conferences break away from the NCAA in the not too distant future. Everything minus enforcement is already there.

[aholbert32]

Re: NCAA Will Not Renew EA Sports Contract, NCAA Football Series is Dead in Name Only

So how are you enjoying NBA Elite?

Bad comparison.

[The JareBear]

Re: NCAA Will Not Renew EA Sports Contract, NCAA Football Series is Dead in Name Only

Bad comparison.

Yeah I thought that was a bit of a reach, and I'm an idiot.

[The JareBear]

Re: NCAA Will Not Renew EA Sports Contract, NCAA Football Series is Dead in Name Only

Through the CLC.

If nothing else, gamers are getting a lesson in how little the NCAA matters in most all but the rules of college athletics. Not a huge stretch to see big conferences break away from the NCAA in the not too distant future. Everything minus enforcement is already there.

Interesting.

[Mr2Nice]

Re: NCAA Will Not Renew EA Sports Contract, NCAA Football Series is Dead in Name Only

The CLC isnt being sued. The CLC only manages schools marks including uniforms/stadiums/names etc. Suing the CLC would be like suing ESPN for licensing its ESPN mark in a game that features player likenesses. I actually know the lawyer who is defending the case for EA personally (worked with her for 10 yrs) and have spoken to her about this before. O'bannon and Keller's lawyers sued the parties that are most responsible and likely to be held liable. The CLC would not be.

I was referring to the future with them not that they are now being sued. If they think after all this either way win or lose someone else or a group of people won't sue for this their nuts. As for your example with ESPN they sign a contract. Kids sign a scholarship. All this would be resolved if they would just pay the kids like they should.

[jmik58]

Re: NCAA Will Not Renew EA Sports Contract, NCAA Football Series is Dead in Name Only

Regarding the CLC question:

If you sell a banana to someone you're assuming they are going to eat it. If they breeze said banana and kill someone with the rock-hard fruit, you are not liable for that person's death.

The CLC is selling the banana. EA Sports froze it and killed someone.

Regarding the removal of the NCAA:

The NCAA does not own colleges. It does not own logos or names other than the NCAA logo and the name "NCAA".

If you own a food market and the CLC shows up to buy a banana that will later be sold to EA Sports (who may or may not freeze it to kill someone), but the banana distributor decides it no longer wants you to sell their product, so they pull the contract. That doesn't mean your food market is gone. You still have all other foods with individual agreements with each distributor to sell it. It just means you're all going to need some potassium pills because of your banana deficiency.

EA Sports College Football is the food market owner. The NCAA is the banana dealer.

[Cusefan]

Re: NCAA Will Not Renew EA Sports Contract, NCAA Football Series is Dead in Name Only

I am curious if this leaves the door open for another developer like VC to make a game.

[Perfect Zero]

Re: NCAA Will Not Renew EA Sports Contract, NCAA Football Series is Dead in Name Only

Bad comparison.

But it's the same idea. Just because there are plans to have a game ready to go for next-generation consoles doesn't mean that it's set in stone. Heck, EA has proven that they can trash a game at any time during the production process.

I'm not saying that this is the absolute end, but there are a number of hurdles to climb over in order for them to make another game. Licensing isn't the entire issue; stockholders are starting to wonder where their money is going with EA. If there has to be cuts, it would be logical to go with the game that has to start over with some rather important licensing pieces (i.e. licenses outside of CLC).

[PVarck31]

Re: NCAA Will Not Renew EA Sports Contract, NCAA Football Series is Dead in Name Only

So how are you enjoying NBA Elite?

I don't appreciate the attitude, but anyway.

EA would not come out so quickly and strongly with a statement if they weren't sure a game wouldn't be released. This is a totally different situation than their NBA games. But believe what you want.