WGA Strike Concludes: New Protections Established Against AI Impacts

The Writers Guild of America (WGA) has officially concluded its strike, which lasted nearly five months as they sought better contract terms from the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). Writers can resume work starting at 12:01 AM PT on September 27, pending a final ratification vote. This decision follows a series of negotiations between the WGA and producers, leading to a tentative agreement with significant provisions concerning the use of generative AI.

The newly proposed contract includes crucial protections against generative AI in the writing process. Specifically, AI tools cannot be used to write or rewrite literary material, and content generated by AI cannot be classified as source material. While writers may opt to use AI with the studio's consent, studios cannot compel them to employ such software. Additionally, studios are required to disclose if any pre-existing materials provided to writers include AI-generated content. Notably, the exploitation of writers' work to train AI is strictly prohibited under this agreement.

Beyond AI protections, the new contract also secures higher pay, enhanced pension and health contributions, and improved residuals for streaming projects. Foreign streaming residuals will now depend on the total subscriber count for globally available services, while domestic projects’ residuals will be determined by hours streamed by US subscribers. This contract will remain in effect for three years, expiring on May 1, 2026.

While the WGA strike has come to a close, the SAG-AFTRA strike continues. Recently, SAG-AFTRA authorized a strike for performers working in video games, strengthening their bargaining power in negotiations with video game producers.