Crazyrebel(l)s ist umgezogen! » likenesses in NCAA-branded videogames

A $40 million settlement has been completed that will pay college football and basketball players dating to 2003 for the use of their likenesses in NCAA-branded videogames. The payouts could go to more than 100,000 athletes, including some current players, who were either on college rosters or had their images used in videogames made by Electronic Arts featuring college teams. Lawyers for the plaintiffs say it would be the first time college athletes will be paid for the commercial use of their images. Depending on how many athletes apply for the settlement, the payments could range from as little as $48 for each year an athlete was on a roster to $951 for each year the image of an athlete was used in a videogame. "Were incredibly pleased with the results of this settlement and the opportunity to right a huge wrong enacted by the NCAA and EA against these players and their rights of publicity," said Steve Berman, one of the lead attorneys in the case. "Weve fought against intense legal hurdles since filing this case in 2009 and to see this case come to fruition is a certain victory." The settlement is with Electronic Arts and Collegiate Licensing Co., which licenses and markets college sports, and does not include the NCAA. The case against the NCAA is scheduled for trial early next year. Plaintiffs in the case, which dates to 2009, contend the NCAA conspired with Electronic Arts and Collegiate Licensing Co. to illegally use their images in videogames. U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken still must approve the proposed settlement, which comes on the eve of a major antitrust trial against the NCAA that could reshape the way college sports operate. That case, featuring former UCLA basketball star Ed OBannon and others as lead plaintiffs, goes to trial June 9 in Oakland, California. According to documents filed with the court late Friday, attorneys for OBannon and 20 other plaintiffs say they have already run up legal fees exceeding $30 million and expenses of more than $4 million in pressing their case. They are seeking an injunction that would stop the NCAA from enforcing rules that prohibit athletes from profiting from their play in college. OBannon, who led UCLA to a national title in 1995, is also part of the group settling with EA Sports and Collegiate Licensing Co. Also covered by the settlement are suits brought by former Arizona State quarterback Sam Keller, former West Virginia football player Shawne Alston and former Rutgers player Ryan Hart. According to the filing, a pool of money will be available to players after attorneys take 33 per cent of the proposed settlement and up to $2.5 million in expenses. Named plaintiffs like OBannon and Keller will receive $15,000, while others who joined the suit later would get $2,500 or $5,000. The majority of the money, however, will go to athletes who file for claims, a group that attorneys say could contain between 140,000 and 200,000 players who were on football and basketball rosters from 2003 on. The final payouts will depend on how many of those athletes file claims in the class-action case. EA Sports announced last year it would stop making the long-running NCAA football videogame series because of the litigation and other issues in securing licensing rights. Sebastian Rudy Bayern Munich Jersey . The 36-year-old Colts receiver is going back to the playoffs as a division champion. David Alaba Bayern Munich Jersey . -- San Francisco 49ers offensive co-ordinator Greg Roman is a finalist to replace Joe Paterno at Penn State, his agent said Monday. http://www.soccerfcbayern.com/kids-mats-hummels-bayern-munich-jersey/ . 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The Yanks have eight players in the top 15 in the world while the Internationals have just one.NFL combines will take on an older look when the league adds one for veteran players to go with the massive event it holds for potential draftees.The veterans combine will take place March 22 at the Arizona Cardinals training facility in Phoenix. That is about one month after the regular combine in Indianapolis for rookies.This is the natural evolution of our combine series, NFL director of football development Matt Birk told The Associated Press on Thursday.Birk sent a memo to the 32 teams earlier in the day about the new combine. It will be open to veteran free agents who will participate in position-specific drills, timing and testing, and other customary combine activities.Theres a void there. There was nothing for that guy out there who has one or two or three years in the league and is not with a team and is at the mercy of when the phone rings or when his agent gets him a workout. This will be a forum for these guys to showcase their talents and a service for our clubs instead of (what had been) an inefficient process.In the past, most veteran free agents would get individual off-season trials with teams, but that was a costly and somewhat scattered approach. Some veterans have been included in the NNFLs regional combines held for draft-eligible players, too.ddddddddddddBut the new format will serve to isolate and consolidate veteran free agents for a more-focused evaluation on a comparative basis.By scheduling it the day before the leagues major owners meeting at the same site will allow for just about anyone interested in the evaluation process to attend.The league expects to invite about 100 free agents to the Arizona combine.Youre talking the NFL free agent who is one year out of college and was in a training camp, or a 10-year veteran who has been a starter in the league, Birk said. It will be very diverse, although at first it probably will tilt toward the younger guys.One thing it wont likely include is the poking and prodding and physical exams that the rookie prospects go through in Indianapolis. Nor will the in-depth interview process be a major portion of the veterans combine.This will allow teams to get a look at the guys and if they want to dive deeper, they can bring the players in for a physical with their own doctors, and do the interviews, Birk said. 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