American football star Jim Brown is suing both Electronic Arts and Sony over the use of his image in EA's
Madden NFL series of sports simulations.
According to the
New York Daily News, the former Cleveland Browns player takes issue with the "All Browns Team" and its "muscular African-American player wearing the number 32," the number which Brown made famous in his successful career from 1957 to 1965.
The lawsuit claims that, "To Brown's knowledge, [Sony and Electronic Arts] are not now, nor have they ever been, authorized to make any use of his trademark as the All-Time Great Cleveland Browns running back.”
"When Jim Brown played football, the NFL had a leaguewide policy that players shall have no lawyers or agents when negotiating compensation," continues the lawsuit text. "Video games were not invented yet."
The lawsuit claims that Brown never agreed to the use of his image and would never allow it to appear in the video game. The suit seeks unspecified damages and a court order to prevent his likeness being used.
Electronic Arts recently
extended its use of the official NFL license through to the end of the 2012 season. The license is intended to cover the exclusive use of all teams, stadium and players.
