Judge OKs video settlements to pay players
More than 20,000 claims have been made seeking money from the settlements. (USATSI)
Thousands of football and men’s basketball players will soon be paid for past appearances in NCAA-branded video games.
On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken orally approved a combined $60 million settlement that ended claims against video-game manufacturer Electronic Arts, Collegiate Licensing Company and the NCAA over the use of players’ names, images and likenesses in video games. Rob Carey and Steve Berman, two attorneys for the plaintiffs, confirmed Wilken’s decision after a hearing Thursday in California.
At the moment, the maximum amount a player could receive from the settlements is about $7,200, Berman said. More than 20,000 claims have been made and the deadline for players to seek money has been extended to July 31, according to Berman. Claims can be made here.
It’s possible the dollar amount for players will increase. Carey said it’s “very possible” that Wilken will reduce attorneys’ fees from 33 percent of the settlement to 30 percent. If that happens, the pool of money would increase for athletes who make claims.
“She wants what we want: a fair payment for the attorneys, who took tremendous risks, and the best results for those athletes who make claims,” Carey said. “The claims rate is approaching 30 percent and that is a great response. The awards are sizable, and the athletes who were there — (Sam) Keller and (Shawne) Alston — are elated with the result and their roles in it.”
After Wilken formally approves the settlement, a 30-day objection period will occur for appeals. If no appeals slow the process, payments could start going out as early as September, Berman said.
Current football and men’s basketball players who played during the period the video games existed are eligible for money without losing their NCAA eligibility. As of last week, about 400 to 450 current athletes had made claims.
The amount of money a player can receive varies based on whether his name appeared on a team roster, his jersey appeared on a virtual avatar, his photograph appeared in a game, and which years he appeared in a game or had a photograph used. There were 111,174 real roster football players 21,309 real roster basketball players who appeared in EA video games from 2003 to 2014.
“I’m pleased to be part of a landmark effort that will get student-athletes paid for the first time in history,” Berman said.
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