Hundreds of former NFL players including the estates of some who have passed on are filing a lawsuit against NFL Films. The suit is actually the second of its kind. Last fall a similar suit was dismissed. In Essence the players want fair compensation for the use of their images in NFL Films products, which the players claim they did not consent to in perpetuity.
On Tuesday it was announced that a class action lawsuit against NFL Films had been filed (via TMZ):
"More than 600 retired NFL players... have teamed up to sue NFL Films ... claiming they're sick of watching the company exploit old NFL footage without paying the players a cent.
"TMZ Sports has obtained the lawsuit filed in Pennsylvania ... in which the ex-NFL players... claim they never agreed to allow NFL Films to use footage featuring their images for free forever.
"But NFL Films has fired back -- arguing that the players signed away the rights to use their names and images in the footage shot during their playing days when they signed their NFL contracts."
This play has been tried before. In August of last year a similar suit was filed (via Post-Gazette):
"Led by the estate of the late Oakland Raiders defender John D. "Jack" Tatum... among others, the plaintiffs had opted out of a class action settlement in a Minnesota case regarding the NFL's use of archival footage.
"They instead sued in U.S. District Court in Pittsburgh, claiming they were due compensation for the NFL's lucrative use of film from their playing days."
Essentially the splinter suit was ordered to be withdrawn until the Minnesota case could be heard. But the parties in Pittsburgh declared their intention to re-file when permitted to do so.
What do you think? Should the NFL have unlimited rights to use players' faces for free... forever?
Tell us what you think in the comments below.
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