NCAA Football 14 News Post

SEC, Pac-12, Big Ten Won't License Trademarks in Future Video Games

11:56 AM - August 14, 2013 by vhhsfu0509

The Southeastern Conference announced today that it will not, as a conference, license its trademarks in the EA Sports NCAA Football video game. This decision does not involve member universities as of yet, as this only involves the SEC conference name and logo.

However, this could be the type of event that opens the flood gates to future defections from the game. While the future of the College Football series looked somewhat on stable ground after EA and the CLC agreed to a three year deal, this news rattles the very foundations and future of the series.

"Each school makes its own individual decision regarding whether or not to license their trademarks for use in the EA Sports game(s)," the SEC said in a statement. "The Southeastern Conference has chosen not to do so moving forward. Neither the SEC, its member universities, nor the NCAA have ever licensed the right to use the name or likeness of any student to EA Sports."

This is another move in response to the Ed O'Bannon case which could end collegiate video games forever given unfavorable rulings from the courts.

Today's news only brings more questions as to the viability of the product going forward.

UPDATE: ESPN's Kristi Dosh is reporting that the Big XII says they have yet to make a decision on the inclusion of their marks in future College Football video games.

UPDATE #2: ESPN is now reporting the Big Ten is out as well.

UPDATE #3: In a statement to Joystiq, a CLC representative said "150 collegiate institutions, including SEC schools, have approved renewal of the EA college football license, to begin with the 2015 edition. As with any licensed product, individual schools continue to make their own decisions."

We are putting in a question with the CLC on whether this means schools can still opt out of the game at any time or not as the wording certainly seems to leave that possibility open.

Update #4: Jeremy Fowler of CBS is reporting that the Pac-12's marks also won't be in the new game.

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Member Comments

# 301 Jimbo614 @ 08/14/13 09:18 PM

And a few statistics from Artrell Hawkins of FOXSports...
The NCAA made 11 BILLION Dollars last year.
That's$ 627,000 per Athlete including Golfers, Girl Softball players and Football and Basketball.
Of that total, 99 % of that was made by less than 1% of it's athletes.. Manziel, Clowney, etc,
The ELITE Football and Basketball players;
The average Scholarship is valued at $29000 per year:
Those Scholaships are awarded on a season to season basis ;

# 302 Perfect Zero @ 08/14/13 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimbo614


	4) Someone is pulling our chain promising a game in the future. Shame on them.

I remember when the NCAA didn't re-up, I told people that the conferences would be hard to keep. Next will be the individual schools. Certain posters mocked me for comparing NBA Elite to the next NCAA Football in the sence that EA can pull the plug on any time... I really hope this isn't the end, but damn it's so close.

If the dominoes fall, it's the end of it. There's a reason why EA goes for even the minor leagues in FIFA. Licenses sell games; not every gamer is an OSer.

# 303 Cryolemon @ 08/14/13 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BenGerman


	Unless schools drop out, I very much doubt the series is in jeopardy for next year. The use of the logos is already so minimal.

The thing is, given what has been posted, it's looking more and more likely that schools will drop out. I wonder who'll be the first to jump.

# 304 ab2c4 @ 08/14/13 09:21 PM

Believe it or not, this game series is the main reason I own a console. I guess I won't have to worry about saving money up for a ps4 so fast. Sure I will still buy a ps4 for other games, eventually. Maybe for Christmas next year.

Maybe a new agreement will be made between the NCAA and EA or somebody else down the road for an officially licensed game. I am sure it will happen eventually. Hopefully this will work out for the best for College Football games down the road.

# 305 OUKOOL @ 08/14/13 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gamemaster-2005


	Very disappointed I will no longer be able to play with my VOLS

you can still play with your vols and any other school as of now the only thing that won't be in the game will be the sec conference logos

# 306 BonesKnows85 @ 08/14/13 09:25 PM

Safe to say that the series will die. I don't really know why EA is even bothering at this point. Just call it a day.

# 307 BonesKnows85 @ 08/14/13 09:28 PM

I just hope Madden will offer the ability to create draft classes, or they might as well end that series too.

# 308 ab2c4 @ 08/14/13 09:28 PM

Maybe I am misreading this, but what about Update 3 in the original post:

UPDATE #3: In a statement to Joystiq, a CLC representative said "150 collegiate institutions, including SEC schools, have approved renewal of the EA college football license, to begin with the 2015 edition. As with any licensed product, individual schools continue to make their own decisions."

Doesn't that mean we will see an officially licensed product for NCAA Football 2015?

# 309 BigDofBA @ 08/14/13 09:31 PM

There will be a game next year but I have a horrible feeling this is the beginning of the end. O'Bannon is going to win his case, schools will get scared and opt out, our fun will be over.

# 310 BonesKnows85 @ 08/14/13 09:39 PM

Say these are the last dominoes to fall (which I doubt), wonder if EA will offer a conference editor. To where you can edit/create/upload conference logos, names, championship games, logos. That way individuals will be able to recreate the leagues that are out.

Could easily be done under the teambuilder format. Computer games have done this for years.

And this is all assuming that these are the only things out and that all 125-130 schools are in. I don't understand the 150 school deal. I don't see myself playing the game without the SEC logos on the field, and SEC Championship Game.

If EA doesn't do something major to restore the game, then that's prob it. For me, at least. Sales of this game have already been slipping, so that will prob be the final blow. Mainly because I doubt EA will incorporate some fancy editor to replace all that can't be in game.

Never though one bum basketball player that couldn't cut in the pros could do so much damage.

# 311 BBallcoach @ 08/14/13 09:53 PM

So no conference logos or names maybe... So what as long as the schools are in who cares they will probably let us rename the conferences.

# 312 bcruise @ 08/14/13 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ab2c4


	Maybe I am misreading this, but what about Update 3 in the original post: UPDATE #3: In a statement to Joystiq, a CLC representative said "150 collegiate institutions, including SEC schools, have approved renewal of the EA college football license, to begin with the 2015 edition. As with any licensed product, individual schools continue to make their own decisions." Doesn't that mean we will see an officially licensed product for NCAA Football 2015?

Assuming things stay as they currently are, yes. All the schools would still have their names and logos, and the only thing missing would be the NCAA and 3 conferences logos, and the names of their title games.

However, people are worried about the slippery slope here - that the schools will follow suit, and then you start getting into generic school names. At some point the game will lose sales if a lot of it goes generic, and EA will have to decide if making a game like that is worth it to them.

Personally I think this is as far as it goes - I don't think the schools will drop out. And I think there will still be a game next year even if it's missing real conference names and logos.

# 313 BigDofBA @ 08/14/13 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BonesKnows85


	Say these are the last dominoes to fall (which I doubt), wonder if EA will offer a conference editor. To where you can edit/create/upload conference logos, names, championship games, logos. That way individuals will be able to recreate the leagues that are out. Could easily be done under the teambuilder format. Computer games have done this for years. And this is all assuming that these are the only things out and that all 125-130 schools are in. I don't understand the 150 school deal. I don't see myself playing the game without the SEC logos on the field, and SEC Championship Game. If EA doesn't do something major to restore the game, then that's prob it. For me, at least. Sales of this game have already been slipping, so that will prob be the final blow. Mainly because I doubt EA will incorporate some fancy editor to replace all that can't be in game. Never though one bum basketball player that couldn't cut in the pros could do so much damage.

You really don't think the Universities are going to start to try and cover their tails as well?

O'Bannon is going to win his case even though I don't want him to. Then dominoes will start falling.

The NCAA logo was first. Then conference logos. Soon it will be entire Universities.

# 314 SLOYAROLE @ 08/14/13 10:06 PM

They could really get out of the red if the coaches weren't making more than the rest of the entire faculty, combined.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ky3217


	Congratulations. You named a few of the very small number of schools that actually make money. And no, most D1 schools do not make money. In fact, only 23 did. http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports...ms-in-the-red/ And actually no. After you factor in expenses, the colleges you named didnt make nearly as much money as you think they did. http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports...idies/2142443/ Compare a scholarship athlete to a student who has to pay their way through college, and you will see that they indeed do, get enough. So once again, schools cant afford it. At least not right now. Maybe they could if they say, cut a bunch of sports programs. Im sure that would please a lot of people.

# 315 Cusefan @ 08/14/13 10:08 PM

The NCAA series is not dead people. It's in a coma. These lawsuits have obviously rattled the NCAA and its schools so now they are taking a wait and see approach.

What's disappointing is that people will lose jobs and if it ever does come back, it will certainly mean a regression in features.

It's a sad day for football fans...

# 316 Trent Steen @ 08/14/13 10:16 PM

If schools start dropping out then we would just use teambuilder to add those teams back in. The rosters would probably be more accurate too.

# 317 bigbob @ 08/14/13 10:39 PM

With the community that we have here, a full customizable game wouldn't really cause too big of an issue. While it sounds easy typing each thing out, it would obviously be difficult for them to do in a years time.

# 318 BenGerman @ 08/14/13 10:45 PM

I have to wonder if this is just a temporary thing for the conferences. I said it when the NCAA dropped its name from EA, and I'll say it now: I think it's entirely possible people are worried about being dragged into this current lawsuit. It's not impossible to believe that when this thing is over, conferences and schools come back in.

Just because I'm curious, is there a reason EA doesn't just completely randomize the rosters? That seems like a much easier alternative, and schools would never have to worry about a lawsuit, right?

# 319 Gap Integrity @ 08/14/13 10:48 PM

No college football game means I have to quit playing video games all together. NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!

# 320 TarHeelPhenom @ 08/14/13 10:52 PM

I say make it totally generic...totally customizable and then get out of our way! I mean put in academics, probation, suspensions, playoff the whole nine and then give us the full customization to do work! I'd be happy!

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