Taipei court sets December verdict in CTBA compensation lawsuit
Taipei Court Sets December 9 Verdict in National Basketball Team Compensation Suit
Fifty-nine basketball players are seeking compensation from the Chinese Taipei Basketball Association after a protracted dispute over unpaid fees from three editions of the William Jones Cup, according to reports by udn.com. The Taipei District Court held a final debate hearing in the lawsuit on November 4, setting the date for an initial-instance verdict for December 9.
The Taipei Professional Basketball Players Union filed the lawsuit against the association in September 2025. The legal action targets unpaid appearance fees for the 2018, 2019, and 2023 William Jones Cup tournaments, alongside compensation for alleged unauthorized commercial use of player portraits. The union is demanding back pay calculated at NT$5,000 per game for participating athletes, plus NT$30,000 per player for the image rights violations.
Lawyers Debate Payment Terms Under the National Sports Act
During the court session, lawyers representing the athletes argued that the National Sports Act requires specific sports organizations to pay appearance fees when hosting commercial events. The players’ counsel maintained that because the association recruited athletes through individual oral inquiries rather than open selection, the process constituted a binding agreement that obligates the association to provide remuneration.
Attorneys for the association acknowledged that a consensus existed regarding participation, but contested whether specific payment terms or amounts were ever discussed. The association’s legal representation asserted that the burden of proof rests on the players to establish those financial terms.
The association asked the court for additional time to pursue a settlement.
The players’ legal team rejected the request for more time, noting that negotiations had dragged on since 2024 without resolution. Counsel for the union pointed out that previous agreements regarding image rights failed when the association missed payment deadlines and ignored subsequent inquiries.
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