SAN FRANCISCO — After failing to sack video game programmer Robin Antonick with a statute-of-limitations defense, Electronic Arts Inc. is fighting back against claims the company used his work in its popular "Madden NFL" game series.

Antonick, a former college football player who designed the first edition of "John Madden Football," contends the Redwood City-based company stole aspects of his game for subsequent releases and owes him at least $17 million in royalties.