Madden NFL 15 News Post

Colin Kaepernick Will Be the Only Player in Madden NFL 15 with Tattoos

03:26 PM - June 5, 2014 by Steve_OS

Polygon's Samit Sarkar interviewed Seann Graddy, line producer of Madden NFL 15 and asked him why tattoos are making their way back to the Madden series and what was the reason for their disappearance.

Many people figured it was a licensing agreement with EA and the NFL, but that is not the case. According to Seann, it comes down to copyright infringement. The player needs to secure permission from the artist first, which Kaepernick did, before EA can even begin to implement the tattoos into the game.

Quote:


	For now, Kaepernick is the only player who will appear in Madden 15 with his authentic tattoos, because he's the only one who has obtained the permissions from the artists involved. "We want to do this with every player, frankly, and we're hopeful that more players over time actually go out and secure the rights so that we can use their tattoos as well," said Graddy.

If another players wants his tattoos in the game, they need to go through the same process as Kaepernick. Since the game is almost complete, the odds of getting anyone else in the game with authentic tattoos is slim. We'll most likely see more players with tattoos in Madden NFL 16.

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Member Comments

# 101 moylan1234 @ 06/05/14 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dbrentonbuck


	But where does it say they aren't doing that? The only thing I saw was them saying CP will be the only one with "authentic" tattoos. But, why would they go out of their way to say "authentic" if their weren't any inauthentic ones? I am just asking.

I asked that too back on page 1 and that is what I'm hoping for as well. His are the authentic ones, but we can add generics to created and edited players. That could keep us all happy, fingers crossed that's what they did

# 102 Eman5805 @ 06/05/14 08:58 PM

By "for now" does that in anyway imply that this is patchable? For all intents and purposes it's just a texture, like a new uniform or helmet.

# 103 Aggies7 @ 06/05/14 09:00 PM

Can tattoos be added via Edit player?

# 104 CT Pitbull @ 06/05/14 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asu666


	EA looks to have done some nice work. I'd be fine with generic tattoos because I don't know what they look like in detail anyway. Someone could scribble I love EA in small unreadable font on Colin's arms and I wouldn't know the difference. Just come up with something in the ballpark or should I say stadium?

I completely agree man. They don't all have to be authentic tats. If a guy has a tat though put a generic one there. it doesn't matter to me really. I have no clue whether the tats on the 2k basketball players are all real and I don't care. I DO know that they look great and add great detail to enhance my overall immersion level.

# 105 edwing @ 06/05/14 09:16 PM

The sense of entitlement here is just absurd. People saying that EA might as well not have tats at all is laughable. Geez, a lot of you really do find the smallest things to nitpick. Why not look at it like an opportunity and a step in the right direction? Now that Kaepernick's gone and done the work to get his tats in the game maybe other players will want to follow suit. We just have to exercise patience but it seems like many people don't have any.

# 106 moylan1234 @ 06/05/14 09:19 PM

^We've been waiting for a decent game of football for like 15 years. Madden gamers are the most patient on the planet. Any other group would have abandoned ship completely years ago

# 107 azdawgpound @ 06/05/14 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CT Pittbull


	I completely agree man. They don't all have to be authentic tats. If a guy has a tat though put a generic one there. it doesn't matter to me really. I have no clue whether the tats on the 2k basketball players are all real and I don't care. I DO know that they look great and add great detail to enhance my overall immersion level.

if they don't have authentic... id rather them not put some generic tattoo's in the game I remember the ones in the ps2 those were horriable and looked like lil kid scribbles.

# 108 Hooe @ 06/05/14 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RipCityAndy


	Copyright law disagrees with you. Even though a photo of the tattoo is technically different from a graphical rendering, they are treated the same. See 17 USC 102 - Scope of copyright. Clearly covers pictorial and graphic works under a(5). See 17 USC 106 - Exclusive rights in copyrighted works . Specifically see sections (1) and (2). FYI, a derivative work is a "work based on or derived from one or more already exist- ing works. Common derivative works include translations, musical arrange- ments, motion picture versions of literary material or plays, art reproductions, abridgments, and condensations of preexisting works." A graphical representation of a tattoo is either an art reproduction, or in the alternative an "abridgment." EA is SMART for not illegally recreating a tattoo. What's wrong with not wanting to get sued? Also, as a bit of irony, the importance you are all placing on tattoos makes a lawsuit against the NFL, NFLPA, etc. more lucrative for the IP holder because it shows a high monetary value of the intellectual property at issue = more damages. Some other things to be considered: 1) If the tattoo is non-original it doesn't need to be approved by the tattoo artist. See 17 USC 102 (a). So, if a player has a tribal tattoo that is a reproduction of a tattoo that dates back hundreds of years, the tattoo artist has no IP rights. 2) Does the player own the tattoo IP in the first place? See 17 USC 201(b) Works made for hire. In the case of a work made for hire, the employer or other person for whom the work was prepared is considered the author for purposes of this title, and, unless the parties have expressly agreed otherwise in a written instrument signed by them, owns all of the rights comprised in the copyright. I'm curious (having no tattoos) if a tattoo artist retains the IP rights with a written instrument.

Well, I learned something today. Obviously, IANAL. Thanks!

And to be clear, I agree with you with respect to understanding EA wanting to avoid litigation here; I was attempting to say that an artist reproducing the tattoo art without consent and/or compensation falls under copyright infringement while photos did not, but it appears I'm wrong about that and both are treated the same, as you explained.

# 109 apollon42 @ 06/05/14 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by azdawgpound


	if they don't have authentic... id rather them not put some generic tattoo's in the game I remember the ones in the ps2 those were horriable and looked like lil kid scribbles.

Especially because it's HD. Nobdoy wants to zoom in and see some horrible inauthentic tattoo. Honestly most players, you can't even see their tattoos.

# 110 bxphenom7 @ 06/05/14 09:45 PM

L O L. However, there are other aspects of this game that are more important than putting in tattoos.

# 111 roadman @ 06/05/14 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Segagendude


	Tats or not, Kaep definitely looks better than he has in past Madden's.

Unfortunately, that's been lost in the shuffle with the tattoo discussion.

# 112 moylan1234 @ 06/05/14 09:57 PM

^True. Also the 49ers colors seem more right than they've been in a long time and I do like the way the jerseys look a little bit more like they're actually beeing worn by a person

# 113 johnnyg713 @ 06/05/14 09:58 PM

Don't feel like reading this whole thread so idk if this has been asked but whose tattoos do you guys want to see? In all honesty I think kaepernick is the only player that I associate tattoos with. I know tons of players have them but what players are you going to look at in madden 15 and be disappointed their ink was left out?

# 114 Greenblood60 @ 06/05/14 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hanzsomehanz


	Some may agree the timing was impeccable but I disagree strongly: tattoos in video games is not a novelty nor is the fashioning of Kap's tats. Promote the use of ink when you have a solid clientele base otherwise your market push is premature esp if this is not used as a selling point to the consumer. To have only one player out of hundreds model his ink screams of a waste of resources. They should at least give generic ink to the others who have ink but have not signed waivers. This is basically a graphic demo - is this a new market EA will cater to? It will be interesting to see if an image of Kap w/ his tats is used on the sleeve of the product as a marketing steak for the guys who salivate over these graphical add-ons. Sent from my SGH-I727R using Tapatalk

LOL, how "new" is that market ? It seems like EA has been catering to that market for a decade.

# 115 RumbleCard @ 06/05/14 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RipCityAndy


	2) Does the player own the tattoo IP in the first place? See 17 USC 201(b) Works made for hire. In the case of a work made for hire, the employer or other person for whom the work was prepared is considered the author for purposes of this title, and, unless the parties have expressly agreed otherwise in a written instrument signed by them, owns all of the rights comprised in the copyright. I'm curious (having no tattoos) if a tattoo artist retains the IP rights with a written instrument.

I'm not sure I'm understanding this.

If I own Company A and I create Company A's Widget the person I hire to run the CNC mill to cut my Widgets clearly doesn't own IP rights and the bill of sale for the "service" should suffice as a written agreement.

How do you claim IP rights on a service?

# 116 JKSportsGamer1984 @ 06/05/14 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edwing


	The sense of entitlement here is just absurd. People saying that EA might as well not have tats at all is laughable. Geez, a lot of you really do find the smallest things to nitpick. Why not look at it like an opportunity and a step in the right direction? Now that Kaepernick's gone and done the work to get his tats in the game maybe other players will want to follow suit. We just have to exercise patience but it seems like many people don't have any.

All people are saying is that it's going to look odd if only one player has tatts & nobody else does. What's wrong with preferring them to wait until they get most players artists permission to add them? How is that acting entitled? I would argue that by suggesting EA wait to add tattoos instead of rushing to add them to just a few players is exercising patience.

# 117 ERA @ 06/05/14 10:11 PM

I can't say I'm surprised by this... Even if EA fully integrated tattoos into the game half of the players' tattoos would be missing, and it would be a half*** effort.

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk now Free

# 118 moylan1234 @ 06/05/14 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IndyColts2


	It's not the fact that you or the other guy don't share my opinion, whatsoever. I really don't care about your opinion. Congrats you don't want 1 guy having tats and nobody else. It's the fact that 1. we now have tats back in the game yet y'all are complaining now that it's only one confirmed player. 2. The article CLEARLY states that CK literally did this on his own, EA has faced lawsuits from tattoo artists before AND they will be doing more in the future Complaining about this is childish. You would rather everyone rather than nobody? Congrats. But the fact that you guys can read but don't seem to comprehend is what pisses me off. Read the article again. Comprehend the article. Then speak your "opinion"

that's all any of us have been doing. and if you really don't care about other people's opinions what are you doing in an internet forum?

# 119 apollon42 @ 06/05/14 10:30 PM

Kaepernick and Aaron Hernandez are the only star players I can think of whose tats stand out. Hernandez obviously isn't in the NFL anymore. Patrick Willis has full sleeves but he looks fine without them.

# 120 Cowboy008 @ 06/05/14 10:32 PM

I'm just really looking forward to seeing it in action next week. Even if he didn't have the tattoos the player model looks great this year compared to last year.

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