http://wii.ign.com/articles/116/1160379p1.html

Consumers have filed a class action lawsuit against Electronic Arts stating that the sports-behemoth has "foreclosed competition" on the football game market. As it's a class action suit, meaning a full class of consumers are involved, you may be indirectly involved in the proceedings.

The plaintiffs claim that by picking up licenses for the NFL, NFL Player's Association, NCAA and the AFL, Electronic Arts has completely removed competitors from the arena of football development and created a monopoly in the market.

This power over the market, according to the plaintiffs, "caused customers who purchased certain football video games to be overcharged." Electronic Arts has meanwhile "denied any liability and all allegations of misconduct."

Have you purchased one of EA's football games since 2005? This includes any Madden NFL, NCAA or AFL games released since January 1st of that year. If so, that places you squarely under the definition of the class action lawsuit and the ongoing case may be of interest to you.

According to the law, if you do nothing and are a member of the class suit, you will be bound by the decisions of the case and can no longer have the option to sue the defendant, Electronic Arts. To do so you'll have to remove yourself from the class by requesting exclusion in writing to:

For more information, head over to www.easportslitigation.com to get all the details on the progression of the case. You can also visit the counsel website of the plaintiffs at www.hbsslaw.com or phoning their office at (206) 623-7292.

This information comes off February's announcement that the NFL extended their contract with Electronic Arts through 2013.

I'd join...

actually how do you join class-action lawsuits? I want to join the one against Sony and I have no idea. Do I need an attorney? Or contact the people involved?

Their major holders are from within the NFL...that one is not going anywhere...on the plus side RAD tools inc. fees should go down...WOOT!

When you say Football you should replace with NFL, Because there are about thousand different sports that go by football. 

anyways: Does this really matter? 

are madden games bad? 

It not like EA are pumping out crap and forcing others not to join in. 

also BackBreaker was an non licenced NFL title? 

Another point is that its not EA fault: Its the NFL's fault for selling all the licences to EA 

EA isn't to blame for buying the contacts. And this class action will fail. 

If you want to start a class-action, you WILL need an attorney (this is one of the few cases in which the lay plaintiff can not represent himself), one who is either experienced in class actions or who is able and willing to associate with such an experienced counsel. If you merely wish to join one that's already in progress, then you're likely already included in the class, and little to no action may be required on your part (aside from opting out, if desired).

Awesome, but I sent the lawyer heading the Sony vs Owners anyways. Maybe my name places as someone effected will help?

It certainly couldn't hurt. At the very least, it makes it certain that your existence in the class is already known to the parties, i.e. you're not going to get overlooked when the time comes for the division of spoils.

Why?  This lawsuit is beyond stupid.

The basis of the lawsuit is that you're paying too much for the game because of EA's monopoly.  Just say that one out loud and then ask how much Madden, NCAA, or any other EA sports game is and how much any other new game is.

Yup, stupid lawsuit.

But as to your question you're automatically a part of it if you bought an EA sports game since 2005 which is also pretty silly.  I don't want to automatically be lumped into such a ridiculous lawsuit and think it's absolutely stupid that I have to be bothered to not be part of the lawsuit.

exactly: 1. the games are selling at 60 USD: the same for any newly priced game

2. You aren't forced to buy this game: there is nothing stopping you from not.

3. You can always play the NFL games before 2005 not made by EA 

i  would like to point out that this cost money, and an lot of it. But really you need an far better reason for the class action: for example there is one in Australia against the local banks (currrently the most porfitable banks in the world) over fees that shouldn't exist and demanding repayment of 100s of millions of dollars to customers. There are over 150,000 people signed up for it, thats an case action. 

We had one exactly like that in the UK. The banks' reponse was "You're right! We do overcharge! But if you make us change the fees or repay them, we'll act as a cartel to make current accounts non-free to open and use. lolololol." And the government/judges agreed and pressured the lawsuit out of existence.