Quote Originally Posted by cdj View Post
- I believe that's for athletic departments as a whole. I think the point still stands. If schools have to funnel (football) profits into a fund to reimburse players, smaller sports (starting with men's programs) are going to get the ax. If it ends up that the NCAA has to distribute money on their side, does that mean championships or other NCAA-sponsored events go by the wayside?

- EA doesn't release detailed profits, but I've always thought from articles that a lot of the EA SPORTS titles benefited from the success of Madden NFL and FIFA. By themselves, I'm not sure how profitable any title any of the other titles are. Based on what happened with EA & 2K's basketball titles, I'm sure the cost of dealing with the CLC is pretty expensive.


Though, the case should really be about 'is the NCAA allowing licensees to develop items/products with the likenesses of student-athletes'? Instead, they've done a good job of turning it into the NCAA and licensees making profits off of player likenesses, when in reality the profit (or loss) shouldn't even be an issue. (It's worked as we're talking about it here. ) The plaintiffs know that Americans (particularly as of late) generally seem to not care for perceived large profitable organizations.
It's not really the football players problems that these schools have chosen to fund sports that do not make money though is it? I don't think that a judge would care. Again, I'm not saying I agree with the plaintiffs here. I'm simply saying what they (and their lawyers) may say. They will argue that their sport, an by extension they, brought in millions of dollars to the university.

That very well may be the case with EA however the incorporation of the players likenesses definitely brings something to the table for EA otherwise they wouldn't produce the game. Keller & the rest of them will be able to argue for a percentage of whatever those profits may be.

Again, if there is somethig in the scholarship paperwork that entitles the university & ncaa to use their likenesses in this manner then I don't think this is even an issue. IMO if there isn't then it should be added & the scholarship is more than enough compensation. Past players would still, legally, have some sort of recourse & may very well win some money.

You are absolutely right on about what this case should be about.