Citing recent events like the Newtown school shooting as well as the general relationship the company has had with gun manufacturers, EA will no longer be paying for the rights to use real weapons in video games. While you might think that the reason why they’re no longer paying for the rights is because they’re no longer going to be using those guns in their game anymore, I’m afraid that’s wrong. That’s because EA is still intending on using those exact guns for their games.
How is it that EA thinks it can get away with using the names and designs of those guns in their games, all without paying a nickel? In June of 2011 the Supreme Court ruled that video games are protected under the First Amendment, and since then EA has won cases such as the use of likenesses of college quarterbacks without their permission. In other words, there’s a precedent set that says that this kind of activity is legal.
Still though, it’s a pretty cheap move if I do say so myself. Of course, considering the fact that EA has recently been in a bit of a slump, what with the failure of Star Wars: The Old Republic to gain any sort of traction, as well as controversies involving Mass Effect 3’s ending and SimCity‘s launch, it’s easy to see why EA would try to find ways to save a few bucks here and there. Of course, it might turn out to cost them quite a bit of money if the arms manufacturers decide to hit EA with a lawsuit.