EA Files Motion to Be Dismissed from O'Bannon Case

[RaychelSnr]

In the ever evolving Ed O'Bannon vs. NCAA/EA/The World case, it seems Electronic Arts is now attempting to be dismissed from the case.

In the motion, EA claims:

"[The plaintiffs' complaint] pleads no facts to support their theory that Electronic Arts Inc. participated in an antitrust conspiracy with the NCAA and the Collegiate Licensing company," EA contends in its filing. "All [the complaint] alleges is that EA agreed to follow the NICAA's rules regarding using student athletes' names and likenesses. That is not a viable antitrust claim."

Pending a trial, appeals, and more -- we are still years away from a resolution in this case which means gamers probably have nothing to worry about short term with regards to college sports gaming now that EA has inked a new multi-year deal with the CLC.

[JLoco11]

Re: EA Files Motion to Be Dismissed from O'Bannon Case

EA is still holding on to their wildcard argument!

Doubtful this will be tossed out, in a civil case you don't need to present your facts at pre-motion hearings, so EA is just creating more paperwork and headlines knowing this isn't going to work. It's just driving up O'Bannon's legal fees.

Once the trial starts, EA is going to use their number 1 defense "We followed NCAA rules barring payments... Yes we used their likeness, but the NCAA rules still state they cannot receive payments as amateurs... therefore we owe Keller & O'Bannon nothing".

Only reason the NCAA is sh!tting bricks is because as a non-profit, they made a boatload of profit off this deal. Their hypocrisy will be on trial, and EA can sit back and let their former business partner take the fall.

[XxJustAguessxX]

Re: EA Files Motion to Be Dismissed from O'Bannon Case

Haha this case isn't going anywhere but ultimately I do not believe Keller/O'bannon will win. Ncaa makes too much money and the guys who will decide the case are pals with the ncaa.

[mva5580]

Re: EA Files Motion to Be Dismissed from O'Bannon Case

I really wouldn't be surprised at all if some point EA says "forget it, this game isn't worth our trouble."

Let's face it, if you were to rank the heavy hitters in the EA Sports lineup, NCAA Football is what. 3rd or 4th on the list? Madden and FIFA are most definitely more important to EA, and I'd wager NHL is probably above it as well. It's not like NCAA sells an absolute ton either; I mean it does fine for what it is, but it's not like this is a title that EA puts at the top of its portfolio.

Between the NCAA dumping the license, and now what this could potentially become, there have to be some people at EA questioning whether or not this series is worth continuing.

[Gramps91]

Hopefully something is resolved soon. I want a college basketball game and this case certainly isn't helping issues

[Feldman011teen]

My question is this. If EA has had an "exclusive" deal with the NCAA, and now can't do anything with it, they went through the CLC. Why couldn't any other publisher such as 2K or Sony done the same?

[billtom]

Re: EA Files Motion to Be Dismissed from O'Bannon Case

So this is what ea has been working on instead of a patch...

[BleedGreen710]

Re: EA Files Motion to Be Dismissed from O'Bannon Case

"having a college football game is all that matters to me,

we don't need the NCAA its all about the CLC"

[footballfan41]

EA needed NCAA more then what people think they do, I'm sure most won't be happy with the Collage game that's made under the CLC...CLC is just schools, they going to be a big diff in the games, I'm happy it's will get a Name change...

[mjavon]

Re: EA Files Motion to Be Dismissed from O'Bannon Case

Is CLC just schools or is it conferences as well?

[BigMoneyAllDay]

So this is what ea has been working on instead of a patch...

um billtom you realize that ea doesnt use its ncaa devs as lawyers right? wtf?

[bigbob]

Re: EA Files Motion to Be Dismissed from O'Bannon Case

um billtom you realize that ea doesnt use its ncaa devs as lawyers right? wtf?

You do realize that his was probably joking, right?

And you do realize that at some point, EA is probably going to have to have their NCAA Developers testify in some way saying they didn't use any type of player likeliness.

[billtom]

Re: EA Files Motion to Be Dismissed from O'Bannon Case

um billtom you realize that ea doesnt use its ncaa devs as lawyers right? wtf?

Wait a sec are you telling me that the guys that make a video game are not also top notch lawyers litigating in a class action lawsuit?

[jmaj315]

Re: EA Files Motion to Be Dismissed from O'Bannon Case

EA is still holding on to their wildcard argument!

Doubtful this will be tossed out, in a civil case you don't need to present your facts at pre-motion hearings, so EA is just creating more paperwork and headlines knowing this isn't going to work. It's just driving up O'Bannon's legal fees.

Once the trial starts, EA is going to use their number 1 defense "We followed NCAA rules barring payments... Yes we used their likeness, but the NCAA rules still state they cannot receive payments as amateurs... therefore we owe Keller & O'Bannon nothing".

Only reason the NCAA is sh!tting bricks is because as a non-profit, they made a boatload of profit off this deal. Their hypocrisy will be on trial, and EA can sit back and let their former business partner take the fall.

lol looking forward to that

I really wouldn't be surprised at all if some point EA says "forget it, this game isn't worth our trouble."

Let's face it, if you were to rank the heavy hitters in the EA Sports lineup, NCAA Football is what. 3rd or 4th on the list? Madden and FIFA are most definitely more important to EA, and I'd wager NHL is probably above it as well. It's not like NCAA sells an absolute ton either; I mean it does fine for what it is, but it's not like this is a title that EA puts at the top of its portfolio.

Between the NCAA dumping the license, and now what this could potentially become, there have to be some people at EA questioning whether or not this series is worth continuing.

behind NHL??? I just read another post that said NHL has sold 1.2 mil copies per year these last few years. I would have to guess NCAA is more than that based on the fact that it's maddens little brother/beta lol

You do realize that his was probably joking, right?

And you do realize that at some point, EA is probably going to have to have their NCAA Developers testify in some way saying they didn't use any type of player likeliness.

By testify you mean lie right? ..... right?

[TreyIM2]

Hmmm. EA may get out of this because of the fact that they paid for license to use for their game and representing college football is what the game is supposed to be about. The NCAA amateur sports clause for nonpayment of players is apart of all that but who knows. The law and rules don't always work right....right?