Madden Creator Wins $11 Million in First Round of Lawsuit

[RaychelSnr]

This wasn't the 25th Anniversary Electronic Arts Execs had planned on.

After three days of deliberations, a jury in the U.S. District Court ruled in favor of Robin Antonick, the original designer and developer of Madden NFL Football awarding him a figure in the range of $11 million per year.

This victory also gives Antonick the ability to pursue the same claims against EA for Madden NFL games released after 1996.

In the case, Antonick Alleges EA signed a series of publishing and development contracts with him which culminated in a 1986 agreement which requires EA to pay Antonick royalties on any derivative works of the original EA Madden game.

“This is a tremendous victory,” said Rob Carey, partner at Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP and one of Antonick’s attorneys. “In many ways, this trial was a test of each party’s version of events. The jury uniformly rejected the idea that this game was developed without Robin’s work. It is, if nothing, a good omen for the next phase of the litigation.”

If that law firm sounds familiar, they are also the firm in charge of the Ed O'Bannon suit which alleges EA and the NCAA owe student athletes royalties for use of their licenses and is the reason the NCAA and EA are no longer business partners.

The next phase of the trial will be held to determine if they owe Antonick royalties for all Madden games released since 1997, a sum which could be far bigger than this one.

[TheBuddyHobbs]

Re: Madden Creator Wins $11 Million in First Round of Lawsuit

The mighty have fallen.

[cream6]

Wow!!! Ed O'Bannon could win as well.

[Irishwhiskey119]

I'd understand someone who helped create Madden getting paid by a people that pushed him out and used him to make a fortunate over a couple of mediocre athletes trying to cash in because they weren't good enough to play professionally.

Sam Keller is the epitome of a douchebag cocky nobody who will always rub people the wrong way because he's a scumbag.

Hopefully the NCAA lawsuit goes the other way because they have already fractured the ability to make NCAA football games. Thankfully the 14 version was one of the best.

[ImmovableObject]

Re: Madden Creator Wins $11 Million in First Round of Lawsuit

Good for him!

Sadly, I don't see EA changing any of their practices or philosophies.

Shame on EA for not give this guy his due.

[footballfan41]

Well, EA do what you got to do!!! Anyone that's Never own a Business has No clue what is like, So EA fight it to the end, Funny this guy has watched EA make Madden for years and just now in past year saying something!! Come on now...When does it STOP??? Robin Antonick should Not get a dime, but he did.. Ed O'Bannon should Not get one cent, If he does NCAA should be the one paying him and all the others, cause they are the ones that gave the rights to EA...EA is just making a Dang video game for god sake, Heck time it's all done and said we will be giving $120.00 per game from EA, If the lawsuits keep coming and winning....So keep supporting these dead beats and we as gamers will be the ones paying for it,..Can't stand someone that just want the money, ask for a high paying job or something!!!!!!!!!!!

[ghettogeeksta]

Re: Madden Creator Wins $11 Million in First Round of Lawsuit

Good for Robin A. wonder if the NFL is paying attention to these law suites.

[Profit89]

I'll say it again. EA are wasting their money on lincenses. Create a game with a deep editor and embrace mods. Let the community take care of the rest. When you try to control everything for the almighty dollar it's only a matter of time before you get nailed,

[simeoncam50]

Re: Madden Creator Wins $11 Million in First Round of Lawsuit

So does this mean Ea Madden football has to start from scratch?

[B1gg Randall]

Wow!!! He's getting paid.

[ubernoob]

So does this mean Ea Madden football has to start from scratch?

No, it just means they have to pay more in royalties now.

[Aggies67]

# 5 footballfan41, I work for myself so I do "know what it's like". But people don't have to own their own business or be in business for themselves in order to understand the basic concept that if you sign papers stating that you will pay someone royalties, you are under legal and moral obligation t do so.

[Only1LT]

Re: Madden Creator Wins $11 Million in First Round of Lawsuit

If he sues for games made after 1996, and wins, will people, then, stop giving me a hard time when I say that Madden has changed very little since it's inception...?

[bigbob]

Re: Madden Creator Wins $11 Million in First Round of Lawsuit

I'll say it again. EA are wasting their money on lincenses. Create a game with a deep editor and embrace mods. Let the community take care of the rest. When you try to control everything for the almighty dollar it's only a matter of time before you get nailed,

They aren't wasting the money, though.

More people will not buy the game because of no real NFL teams, no real NFL players than will buy it with all the modding in the World.

They're making a hell of a lot more money this way because than they can change a couple things here and there, make the game a tiny bit better and everyone will still buy it the next year because they want the most up-to-date rosters available and unfortunately, you have to pay $60 a year for that.

[JerseySuave4]

those that say Keller or O'Bannon are d-bags, do you also realize that Bill Russell is also a member of this lawsuit? So is he a money grubbing d-bag? This was eventually going to happen, there has been too much discussion about paying players for it not to come up. Players are no longer just letting it slide how schools and companies are making so much money off of them yet they can't earn extra income.