NCAA NIL class action lawsuit overview:
- Who: A group of former University of Michigan football players filed a class action lawsuit against the National Collegiate Athletic Association and the Big Ten Network.
- Why: The former Michigan football players claim the NCAA and Big Ten Network broke the law by allegedly preventing them for years from being compensated for their name, image and likeness.
- Where: The NCAA class action lawsuit was filed in Michigan federal court.
College athletes were wrongfully and unlawfully prevented by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) from being compensated for their name, image and likeness (NIL) for years, a new class action lawsuit alleges.
A group of former football players for the University of Michigan claim the NCAA for decades profited off college athletes while keeping the athletes themselves from being able to .
“While today, it is accepted and understood that current college football players are allowed to be compensated monetarily, especially for using their name, image, and likeness … players were wrongfully and unlawfully prevented from doing so for decades,” the NCAA NIL class action says.
The former Michigan football players want to represent a nationwide class of individuals who were NCAA student athletes prior to June 15, 2016, and whose image or likeness was used in any video posted by or licensed by the NCAA, Big Ten Network, or their agents, distributors, contractors, licensees, subsidiaries, affiliates, partners or anyone acting in concert with them.
Class action claims Big Ten Network profited ‘substantially’ while failing to compensate athletes
The former Michigan players are also targeting the Big Ten Network (BTN) with claims it profited “substantially” from the broadcast and distribution of football and other collegiate sporting events while simultaneously failing to compensate college athletes.
“BTN has failed to provide any form of compensation to the student-athletes whose names, images, and likenesses it regularly exploits for profit, contributing to the broader systemic exploitation within collegiate athletics,” the NCAA NIL class action says.
The former players argue the NCAA and BTN are guilty of unjust enrichment and violating the Sherman Act. They demand a jury trial and request declaratory and injunctive relief and an award of compensatory and punitive damages for themselves and all class members.
Four states and the District of Columbia filed a separate lawsuit against the NCAA earlier this year over claims the organization’s name, image and likeness rules violate federal antitrust law by unfairly blocking athletes from reaching their full earning potential.
Did the NCAA ever profit off your name, image or likeness? Let us know in the comments.
The plaintiffs are represented by James R. Acho of Cummings, McClorey, Davis & Acho, PLC.
The NCAA NIL class action lawsuit is Robinson, et al. v. National Collegiate Athletic Association, et al., Case No. 2:24-cv-12355, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.
Don’t Miss Out!
Check out our list of Class Action Lawsuits and Class Action Settlements you may qualify to join!
Read About More Class Action Lawsuits & Class Action Settlements:
