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| [July 20, 2012] |
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Hagens Berman: $27 Million Settlement Announced in EA Madden Price-Fixing Lawsuit
SAN FRANCISCO --(Business Wire)--
Attorneys at consumer-protection law firm Hagens Berman, who are
representing purchasers of Electronic Arts, Inc. (NASDAQ:ERTS) ("EA")
football video games, have reached a proposed settlement over claims
that the gaming giant violated antitrust and consumer protection laws
and overcharged consumers for the games.
The case, originally filed June 5, 2008, in the United States District
Court for the Northern District of California, alleges that EA violated
antitrust and consumer protection laws by establishing exclusive license
agreements with the National Football League (NFL), National Collegiate
Athletic Association (NCAA), and the Arena Football League (AFL). The
agreements gave EA the exclusive right to produce football video games
with the teams, players and other assets of the NFL, AFL and NCAA, the
lawsuit states.
The proposed settlement, filed with the court on July 19, 2012, would
establish a $27 million fund for consumers who purchased Madden NFL,
NCAA Football or AFL games published by EA. If the settlement is
approved by the court, consumers who purchased a sixth generation title
(GameCube, PlayStation 2, and Xbox) may receive up to $6.79 per game.
Those who purchased a seventh generation title (Wii, Xbox 360 and
PlayStation 3) may be entitled to as much as $1.95 per game under the
terms of the proposed settlement
It also stipulates that EA will not sign an exclusive license
arrangement with the AFL for five years and will not renew its current
agreement with the NCAA, which expires in 2014, for at least five years.
"After more than four years of hard-fought litigation, we have reached a
settlement that we strongly believe is fair to consumers," said attorney
Steve Berman, managing partner of Hagens Berman, the law firm
representing consumers. "We look forward to moving this process forward
and asking the court to approve this settlement, which we think is in
the best interests of the class."
On April 6, 2011, the court certified a class of consumers in the case,
including all persons who purchased Madden NFL, NCAA Football or AFL
games published by EA between January 1, 2005, and the present.
The proposed settlement must be approved by the court before it is final.
Consumers can learn more about this case by visiting www.hbsslaw.com/maddennfl.
You can also contact Hagens Berman, lead-counsel in the action, by
emailing maddenNFL@hbsslaw.com.
About
Hagens Berman
Seattle-based Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP is a consumer-rights
class-action law firm with offices in ten cities. Founded in 1993, HBSS
continues to successfully fight for consumer rights in large, complex
litigation. The firm has been named one of the top plaintiffs' law firms
in the country five times by the National Law Journal. More information
about the law firm and its successes can be found at www.hbsslaw.com.
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