EA/NFL Extend NFL Exclusive License by One Year to 2013

[EddieV]

Quote: Originally Posted by LiquorLogic

I doubt any of the lawsuits, including the American Needle case, breaks up any exclusive license that they NFL has currently awarded. Our only hope is that the precedent set by the case in American Needle discourages the NFL from awarding exclusive licenses, or EA decides that an exclusive license, since it hasn't increased their sales, isn't worth it anymore.

My guess is the legal uncertainties had at least something to do with the 1 year term of the extension. No reason for the NFL and EA not to do a 4 or 5 year extension otherwise. A year from now we should have a better idea of where the EA-NFL deal stands from a legal standpoint.

[EddieV]

Quote: Originally Posted by Jackdog

I wish them luck.

Me too, JD.

[ryan36]

Quote: Originally Posted by EddieV

My guess is the legal uncertainties had at least something to do with the 1 year term of the extension. No reason for the NFL and EA not to do a 4 or 5 year extension otherwise. A year from now we should have a better idea of where the EA-NFL deal stands from a legal standpoint.

No you're wrong the 1 year extension has to do with a potential lockout and a lackluster year for sales.

[CaptainZombie]

Quote: Originally Posted by roadman

They already tried that in 2005 and it wasn't working. An ex-EA employee was already quoted in this thread. The NFL was making less money with multiple licenses vs giving a company with exclusivity. The NFL will opt to take the more money deal vs multiple licenses.

Plus I think when 2K sold NFL2K5 for $19.99 out of the gate, didn't that really piss off the NFL? I could be wrong, but I thought they did get upset since it came off as their brand was being cheapened at $20.

[EddieV]

Quote: Originally Posted by bkrich83

That class action lawsuit has like zero traction. I would be shocked if anything comes of it.

Actually, if you call surviving EA's motion to dismiss, and defeating EA's attempt to prevent a class from being certified, a success -- then I'd say it does have traction. Our courts are just slow moving...give it a bit more time and it will be in the news again.

[coogrfan]

Quote: Originally Posted by LiquorLogic

Why wouldn't the NFL award a non-exclusive license if their were no other options ? If EA decided that they didn't want to pay for it anymore, and no one else did, then the NFL either generates no revenue from video games, awards a cheaper exclusive license, which wouldn't make any sense, or awards multiple licenses ( at a cheaper price) to make up the difference.

It's my understanding that EA is currently paying approx twice as much per year as the league used to earn from all of it's videogame licensees combined. Imo that alone pretty much rules out the NFL ever returning to a multiple licensee setup. If EA were to decide at some point in the future that 200% is simply too much, it's likely that the league would counter by offering exclusivity at a reduced rate.

[bkrich83]

Quote: Originally Posted by EddieV

My guess is the legal uncertainties had at least something to do with the 1 year term of the extension. No reason for the NFL and EA not to do a 4 or 5 year extension otherwise. A year from now we should have a better idea of where the EA-NFL deal stands from a legal standpoint.

The one year deal was basically a compromise in the face of a potential NFL work stoppage.

[jjsmitty34]

I would just like them to make madden for the PC again. Thats all, come on EA make it happen.