Electronic Arts 2015 Annual Report Download - page 156

On July 29, 2010, Michael Davis, a former NFL running back, filed a putative class action in the United States
District Court for the Northern District of California against the Company, alleging that certain past versions of
Madden NFL included the images of certain retired NFL players without their permission. In March 2012, the
trial court denied the Company’s request to dismiss the complaint on First Amendment grounds. In January 2015,
that trial court decision was affirmed by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and the case was remanded back to
the district court. The Company intends to seek further court review.
On December 17, 2013, a purported shareholder class action lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court
for the Northern District of California against the Company and certain of its officers by an individual purporting
to represent a class of purchasers of EA common stock. A second purported shareholder class action lawsuit
alleging substantially similar claims was subsequently filed in the same court. These lawsuits have been
consolidated into one action. The lawsuits, which assert claims under Section 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, allege, among other things, that the Company and certain of its officers issued materially
false and misleading statements regarding the rollout of the Company’s Battlefield 4 game. We filed a motion
seeking dismissal of all claims on January 15, 2015 and on April 30, 2015, the court granted our motion to
dismiss with prejudice.
We are also subject to claims and litigation arising in the ordinary course of business. We do not believe that any
liability from any reasonably foreseeable disposition of such claims and litigation, individually or in the
aggregate, would have a material adverse effect on our Consolidated Financial Statements.
(14) PREFERRED STOCK
As of March 31, 2015 and 2014, we had 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock authorized but unissued. The rights,
preferences, and restrictions of the preferred stock may be designated by our Board of Directors without further
action by our stockholders.
(15) STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION AND EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS
Valuation Assumptions
We estimate the fair value of stock-based payment awards on the date of grant. We recognize compensation costs
for stock-based payment awards to employees based on the grant-date fair value using a straight-line approach
over the service period for which such awards are expected to vest. For awards with only service conditions that
have a graded vesting schedule, we recognize compensation costs on a straight-line basis over the requisite
service period for the entire award.
The determination of the fair value of market-based restricted stock units, stock options and ESPP is affected by
assumptions regarding subjective and complex variables. Generally, our assumptions are based on historical
information and judgment is required to determine if historical trends may be indicators of future outcomes. We
determine the fair value of our stock-based payment awards as follows:
•Restricted Stock Units, Restricted Stock, and Performance-Based Restricted Stock Units. The fair value
of restricted stock units, restricted stock, and performance-based restricted stock units (other than
market-based restricted stock units) is determined based on the quoted market price of our common
stock on the date of grant. Performance-based restricted stock units include grants made in connection
with certain acquisitions.
•Market-Based Restricted Stock Units. Market-based restricted stock units consist of grants of
performance-based restricted stock units to certain members of executive management that vest
contingent upon the achievement of pre-determined market and service conditions (referred to herein
as “market-based restricted stock units”). The fair value of our market-based restricted stock units is
determined using a Monte-Carlo simulation model. Key assumptions for the Monte-Carlo simulation
model are the risk-free interest rate, expected volatility, expected dividends and correlation coefficient.
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