US: NCAA’s motion for trial delay denied, date set

The NCAA failed to obtain a delay of a trial for an antitrust suit filed against the collegiate sports association as a federal judge Friday set a trial date for June 9.

The NCAA had reportedly attempted to have the trial delayed until February to conjoin the suit with another case against the NCAA and videogame maker Electronic Arts over similar claims.

The NCAA is facing allegations in a lawsuit filed by former collegiate star Ed O’Bannon, who was joined by 19 athletes, who accuse the NCAA of failing to properly compensate the athletes. The plaintiffs are seeking an injunction that would allow collegiate athletes to group together to sell services in an open market; if successful, reports say the case would upend the current business model of the NCAA, which argues that collegiate players are amateurs and are sufficiently compensated through tuition, room and board at their universities.

Another lawsuit, known as the Keller suit, accuses the NCAA and EA of misappropriating the names and likeness of collegiate athletes in videogames that old the NCAA brand. The judge also set a trial for next March in the Keller case.

Full content: ESPN

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