I hope the lawyers at the NCAA get paid overtime, though knowing the NCAA that would be an almighty stretch.
The NCAA is getting hit with suits left and right regarding player safety and player compensation. Two of the most obvious issues regarding payment are broadcast and video game rights. EA Sports stopped production of their NCAA Football series and may cancel all future production as well. Additionally, EA Sports settled with a group representing college players for a rumored $40 million.
But what would seem like an end to the video game portion of the debate is really just the middle. Perhaps seeing the writing on the wall for broadcast rights given the decisions made thus far, the NCAA lashed back out at EA Sports and Collegiate Licensing Company, suing both for contractual issues.
They're not suing to get any rulings changed nor a different opinion. They're suing because EA Sports supposedly did not have enough third-party liability insurance, which leaves the NCAA responsible for any damages resulting from the game, and CLC for failing to monitor this insurance.
The NCAA is also shifting blame to EA Sports for using player likeness, saying their contracts specifically forbade it. This is likely because part of a suit against the NCAA charges them with blissful ignorance to this fact while accepting paychecks. Considering the game has been around for over a decade, it's seems a bit hard for the NCAA to prove they had no knowledge of player-likeness in video games, begging the question as to why their contract all of a sudden became so strict.
In all likelihood, because they're about to lose several cases on issues like these, and they're trying to cover their ass. Maybe if this suit goes through, they'll be able to add to their ever-growing pot in the hopes that it's big enough when the bell tolls.
In all honesty, I don't speak legalese well enough to know whether this case has any validity left in court. But the NCAA is determined. They vowed to fight rulings all the way to the Supreme Court. It's not like they have much choice, though. After years of chillin' under money trees on college campuses, the bill is awfully expensive. The NCAA is going all-in defensively, because if the opposition keeps scoring, the game will soon be over.
