TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Taiwan Professional Basketball Players Association (TPBA, 職籃工會) announced on Friday (Sept. 12) that the association has assisted Jones Cup (瓊斯盃) national players in filing a civil compensation claim against the Chinese Taipei Basketball Association (CTBA, 中華民國籃球協會). The players accuse the CTBA of failing to pay appearance fees and unauthorized use of their likenesses.
The TPBA demanded that the CTBA pay appearance fees of NT$5,000 per match for the 2018, 2019, and 2023 Jones Cup games. It also seeks NT$30,000 per player for unauthorized likeness use in 2024. The 2017 National Sports Act mandates basic appearance fees, but the association has not complied, harming players' rights.
The TPBA obtained player authorization in July 2024 and sought negotiations with the CTBA, which failed to act. The CTBA, however, claims the complexity of appearance fee calculations and invited the TPBA to discussions that union representatives did not attend.
Furthermore, the TPBA also stated that the 2024 Jones Cup poster sales were unauthorized by the association, and the organizing unit admitted the mistake, offering to donate the proceeds, but the TPBA did not consent. They emphasized no players directly or indirectly expressed concerns, leaving it unaware of their true intentions.