Last week we mentioned how retired NFL players won a lawsuit against the NLFPA for not compensating them for using their likeness in Madden. This week the issue of licensing has once again risen, only in mixed martial arts; specifically with the UFC. Kevin Iole of Yahoo! Sports is reporting the UFC has fired welterweight contender John Fitch and heavyweight Christian Wellisch. The article speculates that heavyweight Cain Velasquez, and welterweight Josh Koscheck could be next. We hear from both Fitch and UFC President, Dana White, in the article.
Quote:
Fitch said Wednesday the dispute was over his reluctance to sign a lifetime contract to allow his name and likeness to be used in a video game the UFC is planning with THQ. He said the dispute has nothing to do with money and that he never caused a problem during his time in the UFC.
He said he simply didn’t understand the need to sign a lifetime contract, particularly since it would not pay his family in the event of his death.
“Working for free and selling our rights away for lifetime, that’s a little different,” said Fitch, who said he hasn’t spoken with White but plans to call him. “We tried to negotiate five- or 10-year deals with them, but it wasn’t good enough. It was all or nothing. He wanted our lifetime. He wanted our souls forever.”
White responded by saying he’s sacrificed more than anyone to get the company where it’s at. He also goes on to say these fighters are compensated well by the company. I can't argue with him on that.If you read any of the post even bonuses some of these guys get on top of their salary, they are paid pretty well. White also proceeds to go on a tirade dropping expletive after expletive about Affliction, Velasquez and Fitch.
I can understand where these fighters are coming from. Why should someone make money of your name and who you are, if you family won’t see any of it should you pass. When you consider the profession these fighters are in, the chances are probably greater than if you were a car salesman. A lifetime contract is just that, they own you forever. As Fitch mentions, he owns your soul.
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To play devil's advocate, I see where Dana White is coming from. These guys should be happy they get paid well in today’s economy, and that someone wants to feature them in a video game. Some of the bigger name fighters such as Chuck Liddell and Anderson Silva agreed to this deal, and who is John Fitch to be making demands?
Once again, a story like this proves just how big video games are becoming. In the last couple of weeks we’ve seen a multi-million dollar lawsuit, and a handful of terminations all because of a video game license. Oh the madness! UFC Undisputed is set to release in May 2009.
What do you think about this? Share your thoughts with the rest of us in the forums.
