U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken ruled on Friday in Oakland, Calif. that a group of college athletes could file a class action lawsuit against the NCAA with the intent to earn money from their images.

This ruling is part of a case filed in 2009 that is hoping to create a system where revenue created from broadcasting and video games would go into a fund. However, they would not get any of the money until after their NCAA eligibility ran out, according to Sathya Gosselin, who serves as an attorney for the players.

While Wilken’s ruling allows athletes to sue the NCAA as a class action, they could not attempt to receive monetary damages for any money they might have lost in the past. NCAA Chief Legal Officer Don Remy said he was pleased that damages were removed from the case.

“We have long maintained that the plaintiffs in this matter are wrong on the facts and wrong on the law,” Remy said in an email to Reuters’ Dan Levine. “This ruling is one step closer to validating that position.”

Wilken’s ruling could be appealed by the NCAA, as well.

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