EA Sports College Football is sued by The Brandr Group, responsible for contracts with NCAA Division I schools. The lawsuit claims EA violated their agreement by partnering with another company, hurting the schools and players. The Brandr Group demands EA stop negotiations with their schools. EA had previously stopped making college football games due to legal issues.
EA Sports College Football is being sued by The Brandr Group, which handles licensing for NCAA Division I schools. The lawsuit claims EA tried to bypass their agreement by working with another company instead of The Brandr Group.
Instead of partnering with The Brandr Group, EA teamed up with OneTeam Partners. They introduced an opt-in model offering college athletes a flat payment of about $500 without royalties for using their name, image, and likeness (NIL). This has caused controversy and player associations are urging athletes to boycott the deal, calling it unfair.
The lawsuit argues that The Brandr Group should have the chance to negotiate fair deals for the players and schools they represent. EA’s opt-in model is seen as interfering with their contracts and forcing schools to choose between breaching agreements or missing out on game opportunities. Read the full article on EA Website about the game release.
The Brandr Group wants the court to make EA immediately stop negotiations with schools under their contracts. They focus on protecting fair compensation and rights for the student-athletes they represent, expressing concerns about limitations on other gaming opportunities related to NIL rights. This lawsuit follows EA’s return to college football games after a break due to licensing issues.
