It looks like they negotiated a very good deal for writers. I am surprised by how the previous health contributions worked; if 4 writers were employed, all 4 of them were paid health contributions...
It looks like they negotiated a very good deal for writers. I am surprised by how the previous health contributions worked; if 4 writers were employed, all 4 of them were paid health contributions as if they were one person. Why am I surprised that businesses can be so scummy?
The Scriptnotes podcast summarise the main points. It's dry but informative comparing initial requests/responses and final outcome plus explanations for those of us not in the industry.
Here’s the AI component which is what I was interested in: AI can’t write or rewrite literary material, and AI-generated material will not be considered source material under the MBA, meaning that...
Here’s the AI component which is what I was interested in:
We have established regulations for the use of artificial intelligence (“AI”) on MBA-covered projects in the following ways:
AI can’t write or rewrite literary material, and AI-generated material will not be considered source material under the MBA, meaning that AI-generated material can’t be used to undermine a writer’s credit or separated rights.
A writer can choose to use AI when performing writing services, if the company consents and provided that the writer follows applicable company policies, but the company can’t require the writer to use AI software (e.g., ChatGPT) when performing writing services.
The Company must disclose to the writer if any materials given to the writer have been generated by AI or incorporate AI-generated material.
The WGA reserves the right to assert that exploitation of writers’ material to train AI is prohibited by MBA or other law.
That mostly sounds reasonable to me, as someone who isn’t an expert in screenwriting agreements.
The last bit about training is the difficult one. I’m curious how they intend to apply this, and what scope of materials they think this applies to.
A writer can choose to use AI when performing writing services, if the company consents and provided that the writer follows applicable company policies, but the company can’t require the writer to use AI software (e.g., ChatGPT) when performing writing services.
Well that's still very open to individual contracts. It will probably become a standard clause in writers contracts to disclose if they used AI. But, let's say they do and get caught, it's a...
Well that's still very open to individual contracts.
It will probably become a standard clause in writers contracts to disclose if they used AI.
But, let's say they do and get caught, it's a breach of contract and not breaching of the guild agreement. Which, to my understanding, is a lesser offence.
If that language is part of the guild agreement, then how would it not be a violation of the agreement? Doesn't that language make it the default that a writer cannot use AI generated material? If...
If that language is part of the guild agreement, then how would it not be a violation of the agreement? Doesn't that language make it the default that a writer cannot use AI generated material? If nothing is mentioned in the contract at all, and no consent was ever given, and the writer incorporates AI material, wouldn't the company point back to this guild agreement saying that the writer needed to obtain consent first?
Summary of the contract here:
https://www.wgacontract2023.org/the-campaign/summary-of-the-2023-wga-mba
It looks like they negotiated a very good deal for writers. I am surprised by how the previous health contributions worked; if 4 writers were employed, all 4 of them were paid health contributions as if they were one person. Why am I surprised that businesses can be so scummy?
it looks like it! yeah honestly studios would probably be murdering people left and right if they thought they could save money and get away with it.
The Scriptnotes podcast summarise the main points.
It's dry but informative comparing initial requests/responses and final outcome plus explanations for those of us not in the industry.
Here’s the AI component which is what I was interested in:
That mostly sounds reasonable to me, as someone who isn’t an expert in screenwriting agreements.
The last bit about training is the difficult one. I’m curious how they intend to apply this, and what scope of materials they think this applies to.
I'm surprised there isn't a clause saying the opposite, that a writers have to disclose if they used AI.
I think that’s essentially covered in
Well that's still very open to individual contracts.
It will probably become a standard clause in writers contracts to disclose if they used AI.
But, let's say they do and get caught, it's a breach of contract and not breaching of the guild agreement. Which, to my understanding, is a lesser offence.
If that language is part of the guild agreement, then how would it not be a violation of the agreement? Doesn't that language make it the default that a writer cannot use AI generated material? If nothing is mentioned in the contract at all, and no consent was ever given, and the writer incorporates AI material, wouldn't the company point back to this guild agreement saying that the writer needed to obtain consent first?