Madden game lawsuit spiked

The U.S. Supreme Court turned away an appeal by Electronic Arts Inc., leaving the video-game maker to face claims it owes money to thousands of retired professional football players for using their images in the company’s popular Madden NFL games. Refusing to hear free-speech arguments, the justices left intact a federal appeals court ruling that allowed the lawsuit. The suit is among several EA has faced for using avatars resembling amateur and professional athletes in its games without their permission.