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

# 361 bwiggy33 @ 08/15/13 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sbunce5


	I'm all for a totally customizable game next year, don't get me wrong. But let's not be blind fools guys. EA had no problem cutting their losses with NCAA Basketball, MVP Baseball, NBA Live to an extent, and many other games. What makes this franchise any different? Anyone with half a brain knows a fully customizable game won't sell as good as a licensed game.

I totally understand they have no problem cutting ties. I'm speaking as if they will keep the game. If they keep the game they will have to add something for the user to edit the game otherwise the interest will not be there. If they add in a great editor though that would be huge. Either way it seems like an absolute mess. Some teams licensed and others not. Possibly a couple conferences licensed and all the big ones not. Just absolutely stupid. It's making me want to pick up 14 just because there may not be a game for a while.

# 362 BadAssHskr @ 08/15/13 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sbunce5


	I'm all for a totally customizable game next year, don't get me wrong. But let's not be blind fools guys. EA had no problem cutting their losses with NCAA Basketball, MVP Baseball, NBA Live to an extent, and many other games. What makes this franchise any different? Anyone with half a brain knows a fully customizable game won't sell as good as a licensed game. With the remaining conferences also dropping out on the horizon, then followed by individual schools, I just don't see a game coming out next year. With EA's history, it just seems all but confirmed that they'll drop the game if it's going to be mainly generic schools.

I don't see this so much as cutting a loss. NCAA football is a huge game.

This is kind of the o'bannon case winning. they haven't even settled, and it's looking to close down an entire franchise.

An entire division of EA sports is, as we know it today, on life support.

# 363 richiesbx137 @ 08/15/13 03:44 PM

With the loss of the big conferences... I do not care what anyone says, this will be a massive (I repeat) massive blow to the series, I do not think every school will sign and if that happens the whole franchise goes down with it...Also they make millions (maybe billions) off the series and if one team drops. I will not be a buy the game regardless what happens. Its all or nothing. And it will be hundreds of millions to the billion dollar range if they lose it.

Also, I smell this case goes to the supreme court as well and that being shot down. Because it will affect ALL the college including ones in the game and in this country as a whole. Even the NCAA is in trouble and might not exist as well. It can go that direction as well. That is way I feel on this. A bit overblown but no one wins regardless.

# 364 sbunce5 @ 08/15/13 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JLoco11


	But MVP Baseball was a different issue. They lost MLB exclusivity to 2K (one of the reasons EA tried buying Take Two Interactive a few years ago was to get that license, and big game properties to their roster). After they lost MLB, they tried a college baseball game, built on the same engine as MVP... while it was smooth, it didn't catch on since college baseball isn't a big seller. They cut their losses after 1 release.

Exactly. I was referring to the MVP franchise as a whole. There's a reason they haven't picked it back up. It's EA.

Quote:

Originally Posted by nortobc


	Why wouldn't they do that. If they would have just done this in the first place, this whole lawsuit would have been avoided.

Because that's not what EA does. They've never done that and it's all but confirmed that they never will. The only creating tool they have left is Teambuilder. They've basically watered down every other creating mechanism in all other games because that's not what they market. They market realism, player/team likeness, atmosphere, etc.

We're getting our hopes up thinking they'll release a fully customizable game. If the snowball continues to roll downhill, the only game EA will release, if they even do, with be a generic game with the same amount of customization that we already have. Maybe a tad bit more if we're lucky.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BadAssHskr


	I don't see this so much as cutting a loss. NCAA football is a huge game.

Right. I was referring more to the fact EA won't continue with the franchise. Not that they're cutting their losses exactly.

# 365 GGGswim @ 08/15/13 03:49 PM

Simply as a tangential question to if '14 (or '15) actually does become the final iteration of an EA college football game...

How long do you think EA will keep the 'servers' running? What's it been so far, 2 years before they shut down season 'xx servers? Would anyone think they wouldn't shutter the servers -- for a game platform they are no longer developing -- even sooner?

And IMHO, it's over. O'Bannon (who, from what I've read and understand, wasn't doing this to make a buck) and Keller (ummm, from what I've read can't be lumped into the same category as O'Bannon), and those groups have won.

# 366 ibrokeu @ 08/15/13 05:03 PM

Apparently confirmation from big name schools athletic director that they will not license to EA doesn't deserve it's own thread. So here you go.

University of Washington AD Scott Woodward says they won't license to EA.

http://seattletimes.com/html/huskies...ward-chat.html

Congratulations to everyone saying the NCAA opting out didnt mean anything. The game is dead.

# 367 Ramminyou @ 08/15/13 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ibrokeu


	Apparently confirmation from big name schools athletic director that they will not license to EA doesn't deserve it's own thread. So here you go. University of Washington AD Scott Woodward says they won't license to EA. http://seattletimes.com/html/huskies...ward-chat.html Congratulations to everyone saying the NCAA opting out didnt mean anything. The game is dead.

That's strange because this really should get its own thread. That is definitely the most troubling news so far. Very doubtful they will be the only school to not continue to license.

# 368 kehlis @ 08/15/13 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ramminyou


	That's strange because this really should get its own thread. That is definitely the most troubling news so far. Very doubtful they will be the only school to not continue to license.

Which is why it can be discussed in this thread which has been used to discuss this whole ordeal.

# 369 awill25 @ 08/15/13 05:23 PM

The sky is now falling. That was it.

# 370 Ramminyou @ 08/15/13 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kehlis


	Which is why it can be discussed in this thread which has been used to discuss this whole ordeal.

I think we need a separate place for schools who are or aren't renewing. The thread is ostensibly about the conferences and I think people are now ignoring it because they don't think there is any new information, only continued discussion from yesterday's news.

# 371 LastExit @ 08/15/13 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ibrokeu


	Apparently confirmation from big name schools athletic director that they will not license to EA doesn't deserve it's own thread. So here you go. University of Washington AD Scott Woodward says they won't license to EA. http://seattletimes.com/html/huskies...ward-chat.html Congratulations to everyone saying the NCAA opting out didnt mean anything. The game is dead.

Well, let's not start digging up a plot for the game just yet, but it seems that's where we're heading.

Let's say "only" 20-30 schools opt-out of the game next year. That doesn't seem like an overly big number, but if that list includes, let's say - Missouri, Penn State, Florida State, Miami, UCLA, Oklahoma, Notre Dame, Arizona, Clemson, Georgia, Nebraska and some other big programs then would it be worth it for EA to make up generic schools for these programs? I don't think so - I would think that the EA brass would come to a quick conclusion that it isn't worth the risk of the game not selling if major programs such as these are not in it. I could be wrong and EA could be determined to put at least one College Football game out for the next gen consoles but if there's a domino effect and 20-30 schools opt-out I don't see this game being viable anymore.

# 372 noplace @ 08/15/13 06:03 PM

The only thing left is for EA to make a statement... Its looks to be a wrap IMO.. It�s the only way that universities can truly protect themselves. If any major conference or school opts out its going to kill the series just plain & simple.. Michigan fans wouldn�t buy the game if they couldn�t play Ohio State.. USC fans the same with ND etc.. All major teams in the Big 6 conferences would need to be �IN THE GAME� in order for it to sale..

# 373 tessl @ 08/15/13 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nortobc


	Exactly. My favorite part of the game in dynasty mode, so after a few season, I don't care about the players likeness because they are all new created players anyway.

Add to that the new platform which will open up enormous possibilities and the $100 million or so in sales the game generates for EA and I believe there will be a college football game next year.

The schools and conferences which don't sell their logo will lose out to the schools and conferences which do.

# 374 tacosaban @ 08/15/13 07:07 PM

No Ncaa 15 game, no need for me to buy a ps4. I have one on preorder. Guess I'll sell it.

# 375 ab2c4 @ 08/15/13 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tacosaban


	No Ncaa 15 game, no need for me to buy a ps4. I have one on preorder. Guess I'll sell it.

Same here basically. This series is the main reason I have owned consoles over the years. Without this game there is no reason for me to rush and get a ps4. I play Madden but not that much, I am not into it as much as this series. I may as well wait at least 12 months or longer after to launch to get a ps4 now. I have a good gaming pc, the money I would have put into buying a ps4 I can use for a new video card now.

# 376 Cryolemon @ 08/15/13 07:18 PM

If it's true that UW are opting out then you have to winder how long EA can hang on to the idea of making a game. Okay, it's not like it's LSU or Alabama, but it could easily end up being the first domino.

And having read the actual answer, it seems pretty black and white...

# 377 mva5580 @ 08/15/13 07:31 PM

The relatively quick speed at which all of this is happening infers to me that this game has little if any value among the NCAA "community."

If this was a money maker worth fighting for, they'd stick it out and see what happens. Seems to me like this game is getting the "It's just not worth the effort" treatment from a lot of different directions.

So all of this stuff goes into effect for the next version of the game, right? So as of right now the NCAA/SEC/Big 10/Pac 12 logos/games/etc aren't in, and UW has declared they will not be in. Is that correct?

If so, and this steady stream of entities dropping out continues over the next month, I don't think it's unrealistic at all to see a cancellation announcement in the near future.

# 378 ODogg @ 08/15/13 07:31 PM

Without NCAA I may just be done with gaming altogether...going to have to seriously consider it, I do play other games but NCAA was the one constant for me at this point in my life..

# 379 pietasterp @ 08/15/13 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ODogg


	Without NCAA I may just be done with gaming altogether...going to have to seriously consider it, I do play other games but NCAA was the one constant for me at this point in my life..

I hear you, but there may be a silver lining...after NFL2k went away, then College Hoops went away, I thought I'd be done with gaming forever. But I sort of re-discovered other genres of games I'd been ignoring for years, and well, fast-forward to today, I basically don't play any sports games with any consistency any more. Sort of a sad silver lining, really....but success (read: profitability) has killed sports games in a way.

# 380 Cryolemon @ 08/15/13 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pietasterp


	I hear you, but there may be a silver lining...after NFL2k went away, then College Hoops went away, I thought I'd be done with gaming forever. But I sort of re-discovered other genres of games I'd been ignoring for years, and well, fast-forward to today, I basically don't play any sports games with any consistency any more. Sort of a sad silver lining, really....but success (read: profitability) has killed sports games in a way.

If things carry on as they are though, Console sports gaming is going to be nothing but FIFA, Madden, NBA2k and MLB: The Show, and that isn't likely to lead to innovation in the genre.

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