GPA to take on GAA over image rights for PlayStation game

A STAND-OFF over image rights is brewing between the GAA and the GPA, following the announcement by Association President Sean Kelly yesterday of a planned Gaelic football game being developed for the Sony PlayStation 2.

The player’s body had been developing a similar game in conjunction with an indigenous multi-media company run by ex-Longford footballer, Frank McNamee, and a prototype had already been created.

However, Kelly’s announcement that contracts have been agreed between Sony Computer Entertainment Ireland, the GAA, and Melbourne-based IR Guns, to manufacture a Gaelic football game, looks like ending the GPA plan.

While acknowledging that a PlayStation game is excellent for the promotion and stature of our national sports, GPA Chief Executive Dessie Farrell expressed disappointment at yesterday’s announcement.

“The GPA is disappointed that the very ethos of the GAA has been undermined by Croke Park itself, to the detriment of a small indigenous Irish company managed by one of its own, a former county player.

“This company was projecting six additional jobs from our own proposed co-operative venture, but the GAA’s agreement, endorsing the overseas development and manufacturing of a competing product for the Irish market, is a severe setback.

“Whilst it’s understandable that playing gear cannot be manufactured domestically at all times in the modern era, this project presented an unique opportunity for the GAA and the fans to develop an innovative product in Ireland, support the players, and invest in Irish expertise.”

GPA Commercial director Donal O’Neill feels the game could bring the issue of image rights to a head.

In many soccer games, there is a distorted version of the players’ name. Kelly said no decision had been made in relation to image rights and how county players were going to be portrayed.

One option, utilised in soccer games, is a design enabling game-players to choose names themselves.

However, the GPA are unhappy at not being engaged in dialogue about image rights.

“It is interesting to note the reference to the issue of players’ image rights, in the absence of any formal dialogue with the GPA,” Farrell said.

“Whilst industry and, increasingly, definitive legal opinion, would advocate the co-operative commercial model adopted with similar ventures in other sports, including soccer, whereby the relevant players’ image rights are commercially acknowledged in a formalised legal capacity, the GPA has yet to be approached in this instance.”