If you can recall back in 2015 a judge has issued a $60 million settlement for athletes who appeared in either NCAA Football or NCAA Basketball titles from Electronic Arts that did not give rights to their appearance in video game titles between May 2004 to September 2013. Today we’re finding out that the $60 million is now being sent out to over 20,000 players set to receive part of the lawsuit settlement.
From 2003 to 2013, EA has put in the likeness of countless sports athletes for their NCAA sports video game lineup which included football and basketball. However, back in 2015, a lawsuit was filed with a total of 24,819 players filing claims that they did not give permission for Electronic Arts to use their name and likeness for a video game. Since then U.S. District judge Claudia Wilken had approved the lawsuit forcing Electronic Arts to pay a total sum of $60 million.
This lawsuit grants players affected with close to $2,000 after lawyer fees are taken out. Additionally, this lawsuit also led to EA and the NCAA to end their licensing deal in which EA was forced into putting a hold on the NCAA Football series. As of right now, it’s unsure just what the future holds for the NCAA Football series and the same goes for their other popular NCAA centered video game series, NCAA Basketball.
Regardless, this has stirred quite the controversy as to if Electronic Arts is in the wrong or not. We want to hear your thoughts. Voice you opinion on the matter by leaving a comment down below. Was EA in the wrong for not asking for permission to use NCAA players names and likeness in their video games or should the players be thankful to be immortalized in a video game played and enjoyed by fans.
