While acquitted of the murder his wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman in 1995, former football and movie star O.J. Simpson was nevertheless deemed legally responsible for the event two years later in a civil suit. Goldman's estate has since been pursuing any royalties earned by Simpson in an effort "to satisfy a $33.5 million judgement". Such royalties include the money Simpson stands to earn as a result of appearing in Take-Two Interactive's All Pro Football 2K8 as a playable character. It should be noted that while All-Pro Football 2K8 does not use the NFL license which is currently held exclusively by Electronic Arts, the game does sign on former pro football players to appear fictional teams, fields, etc.
In their latest bid to collect on the civil judgment, the Goldmans went after any licensing fees, royalties or other compensation Simpson was paid or will be paid for his name and likeness in the new video game, "All-Pro Football 2K8."
"All-Pro Football" features the likenesses of 240 retired National Football League players, including Simpson, whom game users can assign to fictional teams with preset names, one of which is "The Assassins."
Take-Two has declined to say how it obtained rights to Simpson's name and likeness but said he was compensated. The company also has issued a statement saying the knife-wielding Assassins mascot is "not specifically associated with O.J. Simpson, and the game does not promote any such connection."
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