When lawsuits began to challenge the alleged presence of real player likenesses in college sports video games around seven years ago it seemed inevitable that a decision would ultimately have to come down from the Supreme Court. With the NCAA's rules centered on amateurism and huge revenue sources such as broadcasting rights and merchandising later taking center stage - making video games just a small part of the conflict in question - the stakes were raised and an ultimate appeal to the highest court was assured.
Tuesday, the plaintiffs in the class-action lawsuit led by Ed O'Bannon officially made the request for the Supreme Court to hear the case.