In a landmark ruling that may alter college sports as we know it, U.S. District Court Judge Claudia Wilken has found that the NCAA violated antitrust laws by restricting the compensation their athletes were allowed to receive for the unlimited usage of their name, image, and likeness.
Video games such as NCAA Football and replica jerseys bearing star players’ numbers were chief among the objects in contention in the suit filed by former UCLA Bruins basketball player Ed O'Bannon and 19 others. In her decision, Wilken wrote that “justifications that the NCAA offers do not justify this restraint and could be achieved through less restrictive means” while still maintaining the (supposed) integrity of college athletics.
It’s not all doom and gloom for the NCAA, though. Wilken also ruled that the NCAA can place a restriction on the amount of money paid to players, so long as basketball and football players from major programs receive at least $5000 a year.
While this can be seen as a clear victory for those who believe college athletes should be paid, this battle is far from over. Appeals will be filed, PR wars will be waged, and the NCAA will undoubtedly continue in their crusade to keep all the cash for themselves.
[via ESPN]
