Settlement will pay college players for use of their image in video games

A $40 million settlement has been completed that will pay college football and basketball players dating to 2003 for the use of their likenesses in NCAA-branded video games. The payouts could go to more than 100,000 athletes, who were either on college rosters or had their images used in video games made by Electronic Arts. The payments could range from as little as $48 for each year an athlete was on a roster to $951 for each year the image of an athlete was used. The settlement is with Electronic Arts and Collegiate Licensing Co., and does not include the NCAA.The proposed settlement comes on the eve of a antitrust trial against the NCAA that could reshape the way college sports operate. That case, featuring former UCLA basketball star Ed O’Bannon (pictured) and others as lead plaintiffs, goes to trial June 9. – AP