Quote Originally Posted by cdj View Post
Update: EA Executive Backs NCAA Athletes at Licensing Rules Trial

Joel Linzner of Electronic Arts, which suspended its successful football video game series after being sued for not paying former players whose images it was accused of using without permission, said yesterday the company would welcome resurrecting the product.

He was called as a witness by athletes who are asking a federal judge in Oakland, California, to order the NCAA to allow them to license their names and images so that they can share in the billions of dollars generated by their games, mostly through television broadcasts.

“If there was an economically efficient way to do it and no rules prohibited it, we would be interested,” Linzner said.

“The NCAA made clear in its agreements with Electronic Arts that the company could not use the name, image or likeness of NCAA football and basketball players in its video games,” Bob Williams, an NCAA spokesman, said in a statement. “Despite repeated requests” by Electronic Arts for permission to use students’ names, images and likenesses, “the NCAA membership refused to change its policy,” he said.

On cross-examination, Linzner was asked if Electronic Arts used the names and likenesses of real student athletes in its games. “We did not believe we did, but there are plenty of plaintiffs’ attorneys here who believe we did,” he said.
LMAO and after that testimony EA will NEVER make another NCAA product again. The only way EA gets a college sports video game is if the NCAA dies. EA pulled a classic bait and switch.

EA before settlement: Yeah, yeah these claims are bogus the NCAA is right.

Now: Yeah, yeah plaintiffs are right they should get paid.

EA's hypocrisy is embarrassing