EA Sports Lawsuit

[alphanumeric]

I had an email today regarding a lawsuit against EA and their Madden franchise. At first I thought it was some sort of spam but after a bit of google-fu I reckon it is legit.

Found this link that was just posted today, a bit ahead of time before I got the email.

Pretty sure there are a lot of folks out there who would want some money back, esp. those ones who buy the damned franchise every year. I sure hell bought at least 3 madden titles over the past 5 years to no satisfaction.

So does anyone else got the email? Have any more information on this?

[benji]

Waste of lawyer fees.

There is nothing legally wrong with a party contracting exclusively with another party.

Handegg is not a monopoly, start your own damn league or make your own damn game.

It's not EA's fault people want the NFL license.

[Andrew]

It's not EA's fault people want the NFL license.

Or that the NFL wanted to offer it exclusively.

[JaoSming]

the lawsuit is basically based on 2k5 selling for $20 rather than the normal game price....am I wrong thinking that?

[Andrew]

Correct.

The crux of the lawsuit is this: Before Electronic Arts secured the exclusive NFL/NFLPA deal in 2004, rival 2K Sports was charging only $20 for NFL 2K5. EA Sports countered this by lowering the price of Madden NFL 2005 twice to $30 (at the time, most new video games were $50). When the NFL deal was struck and the 2K franchise ceased making games, EA brought its price tag back up to $50. According to the lawsuit the exclusivity deal was an anticompetitive action that caused a seventy percent increase in the price of the games and left the public with no alternative.

[formx]

the lawsuit is basically based on 2k5 selling for $20 rather than the normal game price....am I wrong thinking that?

2k actually sold all their sports games that year for $20.

[JaoSming]

I realize (and took advantage of) that, but this is only talking about the NFL games

[Oznogrd]

the crux of the lawsuit is EA's price gouging, NOT the licensing. It also cites the NCAA football games.

Its stupid anyway though. All big new games come out cost what madden does. This is gonna get thrown out pretty damn fast.

Although I wouldnt mind getting a coupon or voucher or something for each version i've purchased...

[Andrew]

Yeah, I'm surprised it's gone this far. I understand where gamers are coming from, but I too would guess that it's going to be thrown out. When there was competition, EA matched price. With no competition to match price with, they charged RRP. Probably not the best move from a PR standpoint but it's not illegal. No one was "forced" to pay the higher price either, the option to simply boycott the product was there and I'm sure there are many who elected to do that (and continue to do so).

[benji]

the crux of the lawsuit is EA's price gouging, NOT the licensing. It also cites the NCAA football games.

Not really. The crux of the lawsuit continues to be the licensing. The crux of their elevation to CLASS ACTION STATUS is the monetary damages this exclusivity is purported to cause an unknown number of victims and it's the first thing they asked for. (And since it's California, they grant it no matter what.) The Sherman Act and related state statutes remain the entire core of the complaint. Indeed they ask for the licensing agreements to be considered null and void.

And it's not price gouging to raise prices.

It's simply improper to consider the entirety of the market to be "NFL licensed handegg games" rather than "video games" as a whole. That's like complaining about McDonald's monopoly on Big Mac's.

[JaoSming]

I got the email yesterday, opting out. I only bought one, new, EA Sports Football game since 2005 and that was one of the Arena Football games.....seriously, how did they get my email?

[[Q]]

how did they NOT get mine? i actually bought madden 10.

[puttincomputers]

They will probably win in the stupid liberal state of california where fish are more important than farmers and vineyards.