The performers’ union SAG-AFTRA has finally reached agreement with the AMPTP, the studios’ bargaining group, after a lengthy strike. The union is touting what it says are breakthroughs in many areas. The new provisions are extensive, comprising 129 pages of dense prose. The consequences of some of these provisions will only become clear over time.
The lives of professional wrestlers are neither fake nor fixed. Their realities are complicated and exhausting, both physically and mentally. Wrestlers face a multitude of challenges involving their family, friends, health, relationships and vices.
But fans of professional wrestling are often left wondering about what is real and what isn’t about their favorite stars. And
Netflix may be on the outs with the Writers Guild, but has had better luck in its negotiations with SAG-AFTRA. The SAG-AFTRA National Board just approved resoundingly a new contract with the streamer. The contract will now go to members for a ratification vote.
A key provision is a relaxation of exclusivity rules to
The Writers Guild has scored a $42 million arbitration award against Netflix for unpaid residuals.
The arbitration involved the Sandra Bullock feature Bird Box. The picture was released for a brief theatrical run before moving to the streaming service. The Guild asserted that this triggered theatrical residuals under the WGA Agreement. Under this formula, the
As the content industry moves inexorably toward a streaming model, linear broadcast and cable channels are looking increasingly to live sports to gain competitive advantage. In the past, streamers have turned away from live sports programming as incompatible with their on-demand model. Sporting events are shown in real time with limited afterlife. As competition for
Lewis Black is the latest comedian to sue the music streaming service Pandora for copyright infringement. Black is following on the heels of the Robin Williams and George Carlin estates, who sued the platform in February, joined by Andrew Dice Clay, Bill Engvall and Ron White.
All of these suits rely on the same underlying
When new entertainment media emerge, a wave of litigation follows. Novel means of exploitation challenge lawyers to interpret contracts and statutes in contexts that were not originally contemplated. For example, when backend payments are calculated, it makes a substantial difference whether streaming revenues are treated like television or like home video. The emergence of NFTs
The consolidation trend in Hollywood continues with the closing of another big merger. The long-gestating acquisition of talent agency ICM Partners by its rival CAA closed today. The deal was first announced almost a year ago but was delayed by Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission scrutiny. The deal leaves three major agencies dominating
The United States Supreme Court granted certiorari to review the Second Circuit’s inconsistent application of the fair use doctrine when it comes to copyrighted art. The case at issue assesses whether the infamous “Prince Series,” a collection of silkscreen prints by Andy Warhol, are fair use of photographs by Lynn Goldsmith under the transformative use
The Animation Guild (TAG) is on a roll. The union very recently announced a settlement with the AMPTP, the studios’ bargaining representative, on a new blanket contract, up for a ratification vote in late June. This closely followed successful drives to unionize new job classifications on the shows Solar Opposites and Rick and Morty. Titmouse,
