- Credits
- 51,500
The creator of the original John Madden Football video game is suing Electronic Arts.
Robin Antonick, who developed the first Madden title released in 1988 for MS-DOS, Commodore, and Apple II platforms, claims EA owes him a substantial amount of unpaid royalties. Antonick says the contract he signed with the publisher in 1986 was never terminated and in fact remains in force to this day.
The contract requires EA to pay Antonick royalties on not only the versions of Madden developed by him, but also any derivative works. Antonick alleges EA is using software he originally developed in the current generation of software for its Madden titles.
"Only recently, as a result of publicity surrounding the 20th Anniversary of the Madden video game, did Antonick become aware that Electronic Arts did not independently develop subsequent versions of its Madden NFL software," the complaint says. "Instead, according to recent statements by Electronic Arts founder Trip Hawkins, the current generation of software apparently was derived from software developed by Antonick."
Antonick is seeking tens of millions of unpaid royalties owed to him under the contract and requests EA pays him an amount equal to the profits the publisher earned for the franchise, which to date has sold 85 million copies for over $4 billion in sales.
"Unknown to Antonick, Electronic Arts decided that it did not want to share these profits with him even though he was responsible for the development of virtually all the ground-breaking technology at the heart of the game even though Electronic Arts had committed to a long term relationship in which it would pay him royalties over the entire life of the franchise," the lawsuit says.
Tiffany Steckler, an EA spokesperson, said in an e-mail: "The complaint and its 20 year-old claim are utterly without merit."
more here
if this works out, out of that 4 billion I bet he is owed one or two of that 4 billion.
Robin Antonick, who developed the first Madden title released in 1988 for MS-DOS, Commodore, and Apple II platforms, claims EA owes him a substantial amount of unpaid royalties. Antonick says the contract he signed with the publisher in 1986 was never terminated and in fact remains in force to this day.
The contract requires EA to pay Antonick royalties on not only the versions of Madden developed by him, but also any derivative works. Antonick alleges EA is using software he originally developed in the current generation of software for its Madden titles.
"Only recently, as a result of publicity surrounding the 20th Anniversary of the Madden video game, did Antonick become aware that Electronic Arts did not independently develop subsequent versions of its Madden NFL software," the complaint says. "Instead, according to recent statements by Electronic Arts founder Trip Hawkins, the current generation of software apparently was derived from software developed by Antonick."
Antonick is seeking tens of millions of unpaid royalties owed to him under the contract and requests EA pays him an amount equal to the profits the publisher earned for the franchise, which to date has sold 85 million copies for over $4 billion in sales.
"Unknown to Antonick, Electronic Arts decided that it did not want to share these profits with him even though he was responsible for the development of virtually all the ground-breaking technology at the heart of the game even though Electronic Arts had committed to a long term relationship in which it would pay him royalties over the entire life of the franchise," the lawsuit says.
Tiffany Steckler, an EA spokesperson, said in an e-mail: "The complaint and its 20 year-old claim are utterly without merit."
more here
if this works out, out of that 4 billion I bet he is owed one or two of that 4 billion.