NCAA Football 14 News Post

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

10:56 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

# 321 Kingfish @ 08/14/13 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigbob


	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.

That's my feelings too. If they souped up the Team Builder, added a few more things and expanded it, the community would take care of the teams/players.

Then, if they would make a Conference Builder (and maybe a Stadium Builder Toolkit)as well, that would be all we'd need! EA could just work with a generic league and concentrate on the connecting framework and getting the gameplay, rules and other things closer to perfect.

Lastly, a purely generic league like this would finally allow for stadium expansions, recruiting violations and other real world issues the current NCAA and universities wouldn't EVER allow in a game again.

I think the community would LOVE to build the players, teams, stadiums and conferences in the weeks leading up to the release day. Most likely ALL this stuff would be done and ready to download when the game came out!

# 322 OmahaKnights @ 08/14/13 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kingfish


	That's my feelings too. If they souped up the Team Builder, added a few more things and expanded it, the community would take care of the teams/players. Then, if they would make a Conference Builder (and maybe a Stadium Builder Toolkit)as well, that would be all we'd need! EA could just work with a generic league and concentrate on the connecting framework and getting the gameplay, rules and other things closer to perfect. Lastly, a purely generic league like this would finally allow for stadium expansions, recruiting violations and other real world issues the current NCAA and universities wouldn't EVER allow in a game again. I think the community would LOVE to build the players, teams, stadiums and conferences in the weeks leading up to the release day. Most likely ALL this stuff would be done and ready to download when the game came out!

While it'd be nice if they downloaded OOTP and took a few notes, I doubt that'll happen. Customization like that really won't work on consoles. Besides, what about online gamers?

# 323 ab2c4 @ 08/14/13 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slick589


	Man I'm actually drooling of a completely customizable game complete with suspensions, violations, and off field issues....dare I say it...player tattoos lol All this would be possible since EA is no longer tethered to the NCAA. That being said I don't think EA will take that route. Probably gonna dish out the same game with generic conferences and individual teams pull out we will get generic schools like College Station or Tallahassee

"College Station or Tallahassee", don't I remember it being that way back in the Sega Genesis versions?

# 324 BonesKnows85 @ 08/14/13 10:23 PM

Yeah, EA got punched in the mouth on this one. That's why for some reason, I'm not as mad as I should be. Like I said, if they would just add creating of draft classes to Madden, the loss won't be as bad for me. But if this leads to generic players going into Madden via the draft, then I will put that game out of it's misery too. Hopefully there is no RIP to football gaming.

Losing the college game is a tragedy. I'll have to admit that I am pretty disappointed with my conference in their decision. No one ever thinks about the fans or consumers.

# 325 stormisbruin @ 08/14/13 10:34 PM

It's a sad world when people are wishing harm on others because a video game got cancelled...

All I think it about it is: it sucks but we'll still get a game likely and if not, it's a necessary sacrifice to ensure that people can control THEIR OWN likenesses. It's ridiculous we even need to have this debate.

# 326 Pike1302 @ 08/14/13 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ab2c4


	"College Station or Tallahassee", don't I remember it being that way back in the Sega Genesis versions?

On the very first college game .... 'Bill Walsh's College Football' .... There were generic team names .... South Bend, IN .... Tallahassee .... Provo, UT .... And Pullman, Washington were some of the names I remember .... By the next time the game was released, 'College Football USA' had all the real names and mascots and stuff and they have had them ever since .... What I always missed was when you started a dynasty on those games you had the option to choose 'playoff' or 'bowl' for the post season .... If you chose 'playoff' then the playoff games were on neutral sites and actually played in the bowl games ....

# 327 Hiro1 @ 08/14/13 10:58 PM

So Im guessing a roster update for online play is out of the question.

# 328 cdawg44 @ 08/14/13 11:07 PM

http://kotaku.com/college-footballs-...l-w-1136039384

Al.com contacted all the SEC schools. Tennessee, Kentucky, TAMU are still in as of now. LSU and Arkansas are considering getting out of the game

# 329 utahman19 @ 08/14/13 11:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stormisbruin


	All I think it about it is: it sucks but we'll still get a game likely and if not, it's a necessary sacrifice to ensure that people can control THEIR OWN likenesses. It's ridiculous we even need to have this debate.

Their own likeness? That's taking things to the extreme. This lawsuit is stretching the definition of "likeness" to the absolute limit, IMO.

Sure, "everyone knows" that black #1 for Florida was Percy Harvin. Or was it Reggie Nelson? How many 5'11", 190 lb African-Americans are there in Virginia? My guess is quite a few. #2 for Texas A&M is Johnny Manziel... allegedly. The player model doesn't look like him, and throws the ball much better than Manziel does in real life, and the number of 6', 190 lb Caucasians in Texas must be hard to count. It a year or two it will be someone else - maybe even this year (doubtful, but...), and Manziel will be a memory. Can you even name the QB for A&M before Manziel? How about the past three?

My point is players come and players go. Yet I bet you can still find a player model on the Florida team that looks "like" Percy Harvin or Tim Tebow or even Emmitt Smith. If they win, I am going to throw my name into the "likeness" class-action, because every scrawny white recruit in the game looks "like" me. The generic redhead face in the game looks "like" me. Some even are generated with my exact hometown and the # that I wear. Some play similar to the way I played. Those models look a hell of a lot more like me than QB #2 for A&M looks like Manziel. So if it looks somewhat like me, is from the same state, and plays somewhat like me, it's me, right?

# 330 HenryClay1844 @ 08/14/13 11:13 PM

I can't imagine that they would release a customizable game, as this opens them up to accusations (very similar to the O'Bannon case) of unauthorized use of copyrighted logos. It would be nice, but I think everyone is too scared of more lawsuits and more importantly more judgements in the plaintiffs favor.

# 331 AnybodyKilla @ 08/14/13 11:16 PM

Best part about all this I work at a restaurant in the mall by Syracuse campus and when NCAA came out I had 6 players all come in, had the game purchased and couldn't wait to play with "their likeness" .. No complaints, dropping another 60$ on "their likeness".

Ed O'Bannon can eat chow

# 332 Mr2Nice @ 08/14/13 11:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by radiohead


	On one hand, as a former fan of NCAA (on the PS2), this is disheartening On the other hand, this almost seems like poet justice. The old admonition 'use it or lose it' is absolutely true. EA had all of the logos, trademarks and licenses They even had exclusive rights. But, what did they do with it? Nothing! They turned out mediocre games year after year after year. They didn't use what they had, now they're in danger of losing it. I, for one, definitely won't shed a tear for them. Yeah, it will suck if we won't have a cfb game. But truth be told, we haven't had a cfb in years anyways.

That was very well said.

I remember when this news first broke with the NCAA not being part of game with EA sports. I said that this would be the last real college football game. Then people in here jumped down my throat saying that there would be another game and blah blah I didn't know what I was talking about.

How about now? I said now just like I said then. I don't care about cca or whatever its called once the NCAA got scared you knew this was gonna be the end.

Yeah they might have a college football game. With names like Buckeye State,or whatever loop whole they think they can come up with.

I am glad that the kids are sueing NCAA. It isn't right that The NCAA and the schools they are allowed to make millions on their names. I don't wanna hear the crap they get a education. You know what so does the music major and other majors, and guess what they are allowed to make money.

As for EA and their product has been going down hill fast for at least the last 4 years. I don't know if they even play their own games because with all the screw ups u could have 2 people play the game for 2 weeks 8 hours a day and they would know The Spread Option is messed up, recruiting is messed up. The cpu sliders don't work well.

No instead like last season (or maybe it was the season before) they get on ESPN and talk about how great the game is goin be. What they should have done and what I kept sending messages to EA and on here was just fix the previous game title and you would have a outstanding game.

No lets mess with recruiting because we need to break something else. Lets tweak the gameplay and break the game.

EA Sports can't wait to see your profits fall like throwing a brick into a lake from a bridge.

BOOOOOM

# 333 kehlis @ 08/14/13 11:51 PM

Guys.

This is the third warning I've had to give in this thread.

It is not about paying players. It is about the three conferences dropping out thus far and the potential result of that.

Again, if you want to discuss it, it is being discussed in several threads in the appropriate forum.

I really would hate to see people being banned for not following simple directions...

# 334 friscob @ 08/15/13 12:11 AM

Will these schools decisions to stay in or pull themselves out of the game effect real life recruiting in the future??

# 335 kehlis @ 08/15/13 12:13 AM

No.

# 336 LastExit @ 08/15/13 12:19 AM

If I were in EA's shoes right now and wanted to keep the college football series going I would notify every team in the game and tell them that going forward all rosters will be generated randomly and that they will do everything possible to avoid a conflict of interest where a player would be in a position to say "that's me." It would take away from the game, sure, but I would imagine it would alleviate the concerns of schools.

# 337 BenGerman @ 08/15/13 12:52 AM

As long as we have one next-gen NCAA, I'll be perfectly happy. Just get there, EA.

# 338 MizzouBravesFan @ 08/15/13 12:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SECElit3


	LSU jumps ship and it is over. No chance to save it... I guarantee every school is watching these two schools and the decision made. If either of these schools bail, many of the other schools will jump ship as well. I can't imagine a college football game without LSU.

If any big school drops out, you can forget about it...domino effect then.

# 339 splff3000 @ 08/15/13 01:10 AM

After seeing this news and reading about some schools possibly pulling out, I'm thinking I should go get me a couple of copies of this years NCAA and leave them in the plastic. I have a feeling that they will be very valuable one day.

# 340 MarvinOida @ 08/15/13 02:18 AM

Well, by the looks of it, they're just gonna not have some logos/schools. But since EA has TeamBuilder, Create a Conference and School is now a must have if they want to make fans happy. But it would suck if some schools would drop out, especially the big schools. Maybe this will inspire EA to actually improve on the game since this is a near death blow. Lackluster is the word for 7th gen Sports Games by EA, maybe even overall for the genre since there's significantly less competition in each sport.

Quote:

Originally Posted by HenryClay1844


	I can't imagine that they would release a customizable game, as this opens them up to accusations (very similar to the O'Bannon case) of unauthorized use of copyrighted logos. It would be nice, but I think everyone is too scared of more lawsuits and more importantly more judgements in the plaintiffs favor.

It doesn't work like that if its user created. That's why you don't see suits for people creating players/things that aren't licensed in video games. I think as long as they don't mention any of the trademarks not licensed to them, they would be in the clear. But you never know about the random guy with a suit.

Tap Tap Taptalking away on my iPhone

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