For a while now, EA has been in a lawsuit versus Robin Antonick, a former developer for the company and the original designer for the mega popular Madden NFL Football games. Up until this point, a bunch of legal malarkey has prevented the case from having a verdict. However, it has been announced in a press release that Mr. Antonick has won his lawsuit against EA to the sum of $11 million USD for his work on the original version of Madden, which was the template for a slew of Madden games between 1990 and 1996. According to the statement released by law firm that is handling the case:
“Today, the jury found that Antonick’s game and the EA games shared substantial similarity in the plays and formations available to the user, and were virtually identical as a whole.”
This verdict opens up the possibility for Antonick to pursue similar claims against EA for Madden games released after 1996 as well, which also have greater revenues given the popularity of the franchise. According to Rob Carey, one of Antonick’s attorneys, their side is elated. He says,
“In many ways, this trial was a test of each party’s version of events. The jury uniformly rejected the idea that this game was developed without Robin’s work. It is, if nothing, a good omen for the next phase of the litigation.”
So what does this all mean for the Madden NFL Football franchise and EA? Well the dust hasn’t settled yet and there is still a long way to go, but this does not look good for EA given its recent shortcomings in the public image department, regardless of any future verdicts.
To read up on the case and the verdict, click here.
So what do you think about EA and the trouble they have been finding themselves in recently? Comment below!
