NCAA Will Not Renew EA Sports Contract, NCAA Football Series is Dead in Name Only

[Perfect Zero]

It's important to note that even though EA can still go through the CLC, CLC does not have the rights to everything currently in the game. Conferences such as the PAC-12 and B1G and Bowls such as the Fiesta are not under their umbrella.

I'm interested by this simply because EA is losing money faster than the black knight lost blood in the Holy Grail. I can't believe that they are going to go out of their way to pull in those that do not fall under the CLC's partnership. Even though CLC has said they will work with EA, it doesn't mean that it's going to happen. I would not in the least bit be surprised if this is the last College Football game for a long while.

[RandyBass]

I honestly don't see this effecting much. Considering college sports is pretty much a cash cow for colleges and universities already, with football being the lead horse (or cow? ), I doubt any school with a college football team is going to leave themselves out of any future game.

As long as EA manages to avoid future litigation, i.e. not use any player likeness they don't have the rights to, they should be okay. Though there's also the issue of current litigation, and how that may derail the series, but if they are smart about it and manage to weather the storm then there's no reason a college football game can't be made in the future.

[tsallen89]

Quote: Originally Posted by Segagendude

RIP NCAA football. As per the will, it's to be buried alongside NCAA college hoops, as well as college baseball. To quote The Doors: "this is the end, my only friend, the end"....

Quote: Originally Posted by Spanky

Let's go back to the Bill Walsh College Football days. I want to play with South Bend, Columbus, Tallahassee, Los Angeles and College Station.

That was my first thought too, looks like we will need to buy extra copies to sell them to some desperate people here in a few years. I had to buy NCAA BASKETBALL '10 for like 30 bucks a year ago...

[PVarck31]

Quote: Originally Posted by Perfect Zero

It's important to note that even though EA can still go through the CLC, CLC does not have the rights to everything currently in the game. Conferences such as the PAC-12 and B1G and Bowls such as the Fiesta are not under their umbrella. I'm interested by this simply because EA is losing money faster than the black knight lost blood in the Holy Grail. I can't believe that they are going to go out of their way to pull in those that do not fall under the CLC's partnership. Even though CLC has said they will work with EA, it doesn't mean that it's going to happen. I would not in the least bit be surprised if this is the last College Football game for a long while.

They just announced there will be a game next year. Next-gen at that.

[Mr2Nice]

Quote: Originally Posted by aholbert32

Jesus. I wish people understood more about the law. Worse case scenario, Obannon wins a big judgment that is paid out to all current and former college football players. EA and the NCAA appeal. The judgment gets dragged out a few years and either they reach a settlement or the let the appeals process works its way through. Worse case scenario for the game is EA decides to remove the name editor from the game (If EA is stupid). EA, NCAA and CLC all have the right to sell a CF game featuring college teams, uniforms and stadiums. Thats not gonna stop even if O'bannon wins. Whats likely to happen IMO is O'bannon and NCAA/EA will settle and EA will stop using accurate numbers and physical characteristics for player rosters. This means the QB for Texas A&M wont be a 6 foot white guy with the #15. He will be a 6'6 black guy with the number 17. The editor will remain because there you cant bring a viable claim based on EA giving people the option of changing the attributes of players.

I see ur point there. So I think you can say goodbye to the editor then. If NCAA and/or EA have to payout to that many kids past & present. That's a huge chunk of cash! I'm sure they won't want to have to deal with anything like that again.

[RaychelSnr]

Quote: Originally Posted by Mr2Nice

So that doesn't mean they can be sued because of player likeness? You know thats the whole reason this lawsuit is in place right? No ones sueing because the NCAA logo. There sueing because college kids are having to pay for a game that they are in. No one cares about the NCAA logo lol.

The CLC has nothing to do with player likenesses. It (the CLC) is all about school, conference logos, etc. This is simple law stuff and why the CLC has nothing to do with the lawsuit on hand.

[aholbert32]

Quote: Originally Posted by Mr2Nice

Can U then tell me why The NCAA has broken their agreement with EA? Then why won't the CLC do the same? You think they wanna spend money on lawyers when the NCAA doesn't even wanna do it?

The CLC isnt being sued. The CLC only manages schools marks including uniforms/stadiums/names etc. Suing the CLC would be like suing ESPN for licensing its ESPN mark in a game that features player likenesses. I actually know the lawyer who is defending the case for EA personally (worked with her for 10 yrs) and have spoken to her about this before. O'bannon and Keller's lawyers sued the parties that are most responsible and likely to be held liable. The CLC would not be.

[hazey]

I understand the situation with the CLC licensing colleges. What about conferences and bowl games? And the National Championship playoff system in the near future? They could easily do playoffs not related to NCAA. Just wondering if anyone knows if conferences are represented through the NCAA or through the CLC?