There has long been a debate regarding whether or not student athletes at the college level should receive financial compensation beyond their scholarships. Major universities make tens of millions of dollars from their athletic programs, but the athletes who generate all of that revenue get none of it. While there are numerous arguments on both sides of this debate - the merits of which I'll leave for others to dispute - there does not seem to be any reason why a third party should be permitted to profit off of the student athlete. That is exactly what numerous current and former student athletes contend Electronic Arts has been doing for years and they have filed a class action lawsuit in response.
Each year, Electronic Arts releases its popular NCAA Football video game. Pursuant to agreements with the NCAA, Electronic Arts obtains the right to use the names of all of the major college football programs in its game. NCAA regulations prohibit the student athletes from profiting from the exploitation of their names and likeness and the NCAA has no ability to license Electronic Arts these rights. However, that has not stopped Electronic Arts. Each team in Electronic Arts' game is populated with players that bear a striking resemblance to the actual players on the team. For example, if you chose to play Texas in last years version of the game, your quarterback would bear the same number as Colt McCoy. The virtual Texas quarterback would also share the same skin color, height, weight, throwing arm and even home state of Mr. McCoy. The only thing missing is "McCoy" on the back of the virtual jersey, but I for one believe that there really is no doubt that it is Colt McCoy being depicted in the game.
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