EA Sports lawsuit: court extends claim period for consumer rights settlement

The United States Federal District Court for the Northern District of California has extended a law suit levied at EA Sports surrounding its NFL, NCAA, and AFL licenses, amid claims that the company breached antitrust laws, along with California consumer protection laws.

Joystiq reports that the court extended the claim period as less claims were made than originally expected.

The official EA litigation claim site reads, "If you are in the United States and bought a new copy of an Electronic Arts’ Madden NFL, NCAA Football, or Arena Football videogame for Xbox, Xbox 360, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, GameCube, PC, or Wii, with a release date of January 1, 2005 to June 21, 2012, your rights may be affected."

Anyone who meets the criteria can apply to claim, "$20.37 per new game purchased, up to a total of eight units ($162.96)".

Simply head to the site and apply for compensation if you meet the above criteria. EA's statement on the case states, "The Court has not decided whether Electronic Arts did anything wrong," however, Joystiq adds that EA also stated it feels it has acted within the confines of the law on the matter, and the pay-outs exist, "solely to eliminate the uncertainties, burden, and expense of further protracted litigation."

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