NFL2K Franchise Might be Returning

[Covert Rain]

For those of you that don't know, former NFL players sued the NFL and the Players union for not meeting their fiduciary duties for former and retired players. The courts ruled in the favor of the players but the NFL players union appealed. Well now they have lost the appeal.

So, the courts ruled that former and retired players were not being properly compensated for the use of their likeness. In addtion, they found that by awarding exclusive license to EA, it violated the fiduciary responsibilities of the NFL Players Union. IMO that means the exclusivity of EA only having the license might be done in the near future. The argument was that the NFL and Players union stood to make more money with multiple licenses being granted for multiple games versus just one with EA.

I think this is a win win no matter which franchise you prefer. Competition breeds innovation and lets not forget sparked a price war the last time NFL2K had an NFL licensed game.

Here are some highlights.
US appellate court affirms November jury verdict awarding $28.1M to retired players over royalty rates for football-related products.



A group of retired NFL players have once again sacked the National Football League Players Association. In November, a jury awarded the 2,000-player group $28.1 million in damages stemming from the NFLPA's failure to keep the retired players' interests at heart in negotiating royalty rates for the use of the players' names and likenesses. The complaint covered games, trading cards, and other football-related products and specifically called out the NFLPA's alleged preferential treatment given to Madden NFL publisher Electronic Arts.

 

[Ryanwb]

I saw this on HBO Real Sports. I took it to mean that the legends players who appear as RB#21 and such would be included in the game and would be paid for the use of their image like present day players are. Not necessarily that the exclusive contract would be voided

However, I would be elated if the other franchise was brought back!

 

[Shogun]

I hope so for if nothing else, competition.

 

[Covert Rain]

I saw this on HBO Real Sports. I took it to mean that the legends players who appear as RB#21 and such would be included in the game and would be paid for the use of their image like present day players are. Not necessarily that the exclusive contract would be voided

However, I would be elated if the other franchise was brought back!

The courts agreed that giving an exclusive license violates the fiduciary responsibilities of the players union. It was much more then paying them for their likeness. The exclusive licensing was highlighted in the case ruling.

There is more money to go around by granting multiple licenses which was specified in the lawsuit. They were arguing that not only were they not being paid for their likeness but that the Players Union failed to maximize the license value by only allowing an exclusive deal with EA. The argument was that by granting multiple licenses the NFL players union would make more money, therefore increasing the value of the license and allowing more payout dollars to the players.

Also, if they continue to grant an exclusive license...that paves they way for additional lawsuits against the NFL Players union. The NFL players union doesn't want to be sued again for granting an exclusive license. This is going to lead to new rules within the NFLPU in regards to how they pay retired and former players. They will also have to look at license deals to avoid further lawsuits.

I have no clue if this means the current contract will be voided. Although, I could see NFL2K filing lawsuit against the NFL based on the ruling. At the very least, when this current contract runs out, I don't see the NFL granting another exclusive license.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

good news.

 

[ActingWild]

Excellent! 2k was such a superior product that instead of trying to develop a better game to compete with it, EA spent their money on this "deal" and basically made a monopoly on NFL games. I'm glad to hear that we're moving closer to competition again.

 

[SuperSpck]

I hope so for if nothing else, competition.

The 'golden age' of modern virtual football was when EA and 2k were going head to head, taking the best of last-year's features and making them their own.

Competition breeds excellence, not budget or names.

 

[SuperSpck]

I'm hoping Backbreaker makes it out of development hell (it may have stalled).

Originally the team was talking about high user-end customization, even to the point where players, teams, and logos could be created to be anything.

I'm sure an industrious group of freelances would have given us the NFL.

 

[mjb21aztd]

Man I hope this is true nfl2k had the best franchise ever that was so cool how they had like team mettings, week highlights on espn tonight etc. Oh yeah and also they actually had a supberbowl show and pregame stuff unlike madden.... Please come back nfl2k