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Madden NFL 13 News Post


A proposed settlement was filed this evening in the lawsuit filed by consumers against EA regarding its exclusive license agreements with the NFL, NCAA and AFL.

Owen Good, over at Kotaku has been following along and explains it very well, right here.

The full details on the proposed settlement below. You can also download a copy of the proposed settlement, right here.

$27 Million Settlement Announced in EA Madden Price-fixing Lawsuit

SAN FRANCISCO – Attorneys representing purchasers of Electronic Arts, Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) (“EA”) football video games have reached a proposed settlement over claims that the gaming giant violated antitrust and consumer protection laws and overcharged consumers for the games.

The case, originally filed June 5, 2008, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, alleges that EA violated antitrust and consumer protection laws by establishing exclusive license agreements with the National Football League (NFL), National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), and the Arena Football League (AFL). The agreements gave EA the exclusive right to produce football video games with the teams, players and other assets of the NFL, AFL and NCAA, the lawsuit states.

The proposed settlement, filed with the court on July 19, 2012, would establish a $27 million fund for consumers who purchased Madden NFL, NCAA Football or AFL games published by EA. If the settlement is approved by the court, consumers who purchased a sixth generation title (GameCube, PlayStation 2, and Xbox) may receive up to $6.79 per game. Those who purchased a seventh generation title (Wii, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3) may be entitled to as much as $1.95 per game under the terms of the proposed settlement.

It also stipulates that EA will not sign an exclusive license arrangement with the AFL for five years and will not renew its current agreement with the NCAA, which expires in 2014, for at least five years.

“After more than four years of hard-fought litigation, we have reached a settlement that we strongly believe is fair to consumers,” said attorney Steve Berman, managing partner of Hagens Berman, the law firm representing consumers. “We look forward to moving this process forward and asking the court to approve this settlement, which we think is in the best interests of the class.”

On April 6, 2011, the court certified a class of consumers in the case, including all persons who purchased Madden NFL, NCAA Football or AFL games published by EA between January 1, 2005, and the present.

The proposed settlement must be approved by the court before it is final.

Consumers can learn more about this case by visiting www.hbsslaw.com/maddennfl. You can also contact Hagens Berman, lead-counsel in the action, by emailing [email protected].

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Member Comments
# 1 PVarck31 @ 07/20/12 10:25 PM
So this has nothing to do with NFL exclusive rights I take it?
 
# 2 Cletus @ 07/20/12 10:26 PM
woo hoo I will take my 20 bucks!
 
# 3 NikeBlitz @ 07/20/12 10:33 PM
Quote:
It also stipulates that EA will not sign an exclusive license arrangement with the AFL for five years and will not renew its current agreement with the NCAA, which expires in 2014, for at least five years.
What does it mean ? No NCAA FB 15 or no more exclusivity ?
 
# 4 JerzeyReign @ 07/20/12 10:36 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by NikeBlitz
What does it mean ? No NCAA FB 15 or no more exclusivity ?
No more exclusive deals.

And I'll still hold out hope that this will dissuade EA from renewing the NFL contract -- hopefully.
 
# 5 roadman @ 07/20/12 10:36 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Big FN Deal
It also stipulates that EA will not sign an exclusive license arrangement with the AFL for five years and will not renew its current agreement with the NCAA, which expires in 2014, for at least five years.


I almost crap my pants in anticipation that the "NFL" would have been included in that sentence. lol
I did the same thing, I had to read it over a second time.

How will proof of purchases work?
 
# 6 roadman @ 07/20/12 10:37 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by tazdevil20
The one organization that matters the most and that one is left out of the settlement. Why is that? What a crock. Nothing would please me more than to see all of these exclusive licenses for games be gone forever.
Settled out of court, both sides negotiated.
 
# 7 MJHSpanda57 @ 07/20/12 10:39 PM
ESPN NCAA 2k15 anybody? haha
 
# 8 SageInfinite @ 07/20/12 10:45 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by MJHSpanda57
ESPN NCAA 2k15 anybody? haha
Yes please and thank you. Probably would just be NCAA 2K15
 
# 9 PVarck31 @ 07/20/12 10:48 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cre8
This is a sad day for NFL gaming fans...
I don't think it's sad at all. I don't see them renewing the NFL license. They don't even want to be put anywhere near a legal situation with that. Not to mention all the money they lost with it in the first place.
 
# 10 qdog @ 07/20/12 10:48 PM
i hope the settlement goes in the favor of the consumer and i hope 2k jump all over this and start making college games that would be awesome and a start toward making NFL games for 2k
 
# 11 Illustrator76 @ 07/20/12 10:50 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by MJHSpanda57
ESPN NCAA 2k15 anybody? haha
Quote:
Originally Posted by SageInfinite
Yes please and thank you. Probably would just be NCAA 2K15
I love me some 2K Football, but my only issue with this is that 2K's College Football game sucked. Here's to hoping they could get it right this time around if 2K decides to go in that direction.
 
# 12 Av2002 @ 07/20/12 10:51 PM
This is a decent start. Developers should start tonight their production for a college football game. They need to put out the best possible product that's strong enough to even get madden sales down. This will make EA start spending their millions in resources more with improving their game. Their locomotion will be handled Oline battle the player models player movement and much more
 
# 13 roadman @ 07/20/12 10:54 PM
Wonders if 2k even has the start up capital to begin a new developmental football game. Most of the other football designers from 2k8 are spread out and gone.
 
# 14 Kanobi @ 07/20/12 11:00 PM
If 2ksports is still around after the '13/'14 season....I personally hope they would focus completely on NBA2k15 and a possible NFL2k15. That's it. Doing so IMO would ensure both are of equal quality.
 
# 15 kjcheezhead @ 07/20/12 11:12 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Big FN Deal
All this talk about 2k but I would love to see ANY different company try their hand at making a college football game.

NCAA Football The Show 15 anyone? lol
College games just dont do well. Without big brother Madden sharing the development costs there probably wouldn't be an NCAA game at all. Without an NFL license, there won't be a new 2k college game.
 
# 16 juggalotusx @ 07/20/12 11:13 PM
I dont think 2k has the money at all, the way gaming has been going broke. I think the rights to the nfl will be open to anyone one or more companys. Just think of the hit EA just took,lol. This might mean madden 14 might not have all the upgrades that people are expecting now. I think its crap when companys buy the rights to sports. Then again a company could buy it and make the game horrible and then we would all be sad...
 
# 17 NoLimits77 @ 07/20/12 11:14 PM
gimme my $30 for Madden 04, 06, 07, 08 on PS2 and 10 on PS3 eheh
 
# 18 Goffs @ 07/20/12 11:33 PM
eh could the "big" announcement from 2k be NCAA football?
 
# 19 TreFacTor @ 07/20/12 11:35 PM
Ea can just give me a free copy of Madden 13 and I'll consider it even.
 
# 20 Sergio88 @ 07/20/12 11:41 PM
I Want NFL 2K back & College Hoops back.
 

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