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#NCAA - s $60 Million Video Game Lawsuit Settlement Approved by Judge

Keith Srakocic/Associated Press

NCAA student-athletes who had their names or likenesses used in video games created by Electronics Arts are now entitled to a portion of a $60 million settlement approved by a federal judge this week.

The Associated Press reported U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken approved the settlement Thursday. Attorney Steve Berman released a statement about the continued progress in the fight for student-athletes' rights.

"This landmark decision marks the first time student-athletes will be paid for the likeness or image, and stands as a huge victory in the ongoing fight for student-athletes' rights," the statement read.

Judge Wilken also ruled against the NCAA in the high-profile Ed O'Bannon case, which covers the more general usage of athletes' names, images and likenesses. That decision is currently in the appeal process and could reach the Supreme Court.

The video game ruling allows those athletes who appeared in the games to make claims until July 31 to collect part of the settlement, according to the AP report. EA Sports hasn't created the college games since 2013 because of the litigation.

Although it's a victory for past student-athletes, the future of payments for college players remains the biggest point of contention. The NCAA recently filed for a stay on an injunction that ruled schools could pay athletes up to $5,000 in deferred money for their image rights, which would otherwise take effect Aug. 1.

The issue of paying players has remained in the spotlight for a long time, but these recent rulings are starting to trend more in favor of giving athletes some type of compensation beyond a scholarship.