ICC and WCA face potential tug-of-war over player image rights for the upcoming mobile game that will be released.
ICC and WCA could clash over player image rights for mobile game.
A possible disagreement between the ICC and the World Cricketers Association (WCA) concerns the licensing rights of player images for a new mobile cricket game that the sport’s governing body intends to release soon.
In April, the ICC initially proposed those intentions to its members. Some member boards are thought to have stated a wish to engage directly with their players over these rights at the next AGM in Singapore in July. In addition to accusing the global governing body and “some” member boards of attempting to “own” the players’ name, image, and likeness (NIL) rights beyond previously agreed terms, the WCA, the global players’ association (formerly known as FICA), deems this a “breach” of an agreement they had signed with the ICC.
The background
The goal of the ICC’s game development plan is to generate extra income to help offset the anticipated decline in broadcast rights values in the 2028–2031 cycle. The ICC is eager to enter the rapidly expanding Indian mobile gaming sector, which is estimated by many reports to be worth approximately US$3 billion in 2024.
After completing licensing agreements with three companies, including Real Cricket, which was announced in August 2024, the WCA has already stepped in. More than 250 professional cricket players’ names, likenesses, and photos will be used in the WCA’s partnership with Real Cricket. However, yearly royalties from other mobile gaming contracts have already begun to reach the players that WCA represents.
According to the WCA, there are numerous companies in India who use player NIL in other games without permission or paying those players, and the WCA is eager to uphold and defend their right to these profits.
The global players’ organisation cautioned over 600 players from 15 of the top 20 nations with WCA affiliations (excluding India and Pakistan, which lack player bodies) against interacting with the ICC or member boards regarding rights related to the ICC’s mobile game.
WCA Statement
“The ICC/national governing bodies are taking steps to develop a global mobile game built on your name, image, likeness (NIL), without agreeing to terms with players collectively,” Tom Moffat, the WCA CEO, wrote on August 12 in an email to players.
“In short, it appears the ICC wants to use and sell your rights at the global level and doesn’t want you and your colleagues to have a say collectively at the global level on how your rights are used, and how you get paid for them.”
Moffat informed the players that the ICC was essentially breaking the terms of the contract it had signed with the WCA on the ICC’s and its business partners’ permitted use of players’ image rights, which is a persistent problem between the two organisations.
“This approach would be a breach of the ICC’s agreement with the WCA and Squad Terms, and it points to: a general lack of respect for players, your commercial rights, and your right to choose who represents you; and of a desire (including from some national governing bodies) to ‘own’ you, and your NIL, in all contexts – even for off field opportunities that exist outside of your playing contracts, and governing body IP (marks and logos).”