Updated

An arbitrator has ruled in favor of several NBA players regarding their signing rights.

"The NBA announced today that a decision has been issued in the recent arbitration proceeding brought by the Players Association on behalf of Jeremy Lin, Steve Novak, Chauncey Billups, and J.J. Hickson," the league said in a statement. "In that decision, arbitrator Kenneth Dam ruled that players who are claimed off of waivers have the same "Bird" or "Early Bird" rights that they would have if they were traded."

The four listed above were named in a proceeding filed on their behalf by the NBA Players Association. The decision, made public on Friday afternoon, stated that any team which seeks to re-sign a player who was originally claimed off waivers, can do so by violating the salary cap.

The NBA also said it will appeal the ruling.