14 DAY TRIAL // The lawsuit regarding NCAA athlete likeness that was opened against EA a few years ago might finally be coming to an end soon.
The former National Collegiate Athletic Association players sued Electronic Arts back in 2009, on the grounds that the company had made repeated use of their likenesses in its video games, without either permission or compensation to the NCAA.
Electronic Arts filed many motions to dismiss the lawsuit, but the company was eventually forced to settle, late last year, as GamaSutra reports.
The law firm representing the NCAA players says that a settlement has been decided, and that the class members will be able to receive up to $951 / €699 for each year that they were featured in one of the NCAA games from EA.
Although this may not seem like much at first sight, the settlement might end up costing Electronic Arts over $40 / €29 million in total.
This is the first time that a partner with the NCAA has to reimburse students for using their likenesses, and speaking of which, the former students are also suing the NCAA for not stepping in when EA commercialized their features. It doesn't stop there though, as the NCAA is in turn suing EA for an alleged breach of contract. Exciting times to live in.