The Writers Guild of America plans to demand compensation for scripts used to train AI models during upcoming contract talks with studios. Negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers are set to begin next week, amid concerns over health fund deficits and other issues from the 2023 strike. Union leaders emphasize the need for fair payments while noting that AI protections secured previously have held up.
The Writers Guild of America (WGA) is preparing for its Minimum Basic Agreement (MBA) negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), scheduled to start next week. A key demand is compensation for writers whose scripts are used to train AI models, building on protections won during the 2023 strike that addressed fears of AI replacing writers.
John August, co-chair of the WGA Negotiating Committee, stated, “There has to be some payment for training and AI outputs based on our work.” The union views this as affirming the principle of payment for derivative uses of members' work. Last fall, Disney permitted its characters in user-generated videos via OpenAI's Sora tool, raising ongoing concerns. August noted that while studios own copyrights to produced works, the WGA seeks a share when such material generates AI outputs, similar to past residuals for DVDs.
The negotiations occur against a backdrop of industry contraction, with fewer working writers contributing to eight-figure deficits in the union's health fund. Michele Mulroney, president of WGA West, highlighted the need for increased company contributions, potentially including adjustments to contribution caps unchanged for 20 years and extending residuals contributions to features. Ellen Stutzman, the guild's chief negotiator, emphasized the importance of the extended coverage program, in place since 2000, which supports freelance writers during work shortages.
Other priorities include curbing free work practices that have migrated from features to television, with proposals to designate producers as company agents for payment purposes. The union also aims to expand the guaranteed second step for feature writers and improve streaming residuals bonuses, which have grown year over year, particularly on Netflix.
The atmosphere is less militant than in 2023, though the WGA Staff Union is striking for better wages and AI protections. An AMPTP spokesperson responded, “The AMPTP looks forward to engaging in a constructive and collaborative bargaining process with the WGA. Through continued good-faith dialogue, we are confident we can reach balanced solutions that support talented writers while sustaining the long-term success and stability of our industry and its workforce.”
