Robin Antonick, the creator of the first Madden NFL Football game is suing Electronic Arts for tens of millions for unpaid royalties and, according to Reuters, “potentially billions in profits over the franchise.”
The man who started the franchise, which has sold more than 85 million copies since its inception 20 years ago, is demanding a jury trial in California after filing a lawsuit Wednesday.
Antonick , an Illinois native, signed a development contract with EA in 1986 that allegedly entitles him to royalties on “derivative versions,” of the Madden game and at one time even worked
on the franchise out of a cubicle a “few feet away from Electronic Arts founder Trip Hawkins.”
“Only recently, as a result of publicity surrounding the 20th Anniversary of the Madden videogame did Antonick become aware that Electronic Arts did not independently develop subsequent versions of its Madden NFL software,” reads the complaint. “Instead, according to recent statements by Electronic Arts founder Trip Hawkins, the current generation of software apparently derived from software developed by Antonick.”
Antonick is seeking tens of millions of owed royalties, plus proceeds from all sales profit as the result “of allegedly fraudulent behavior,” and not receiving a royalty payment since 1992. The plaintiff also claims EA franchised the game to other platforms and licensed versions of it without approval.
It has reported in the past that the franchise has netted EA overr $4 billion in profits during its time on the market.
The creator has remained quiet for some time. He says he hasn’t received a royalty payment since approximately 1992.
EA has yet to comment on the matter.
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