Supposedly the studios are only allowed to train their AI on scripts THEY own. Not sure how much that matters if you’re a writer working for a studio, but as an outsider looking in, that seems to be what made the difference for the WGA.
Also, this tentative deal would only last up to September of 2026 so either way this deal has an expiration date. Does that mean that studios can do whatever they want with their AI after this date? How much more advanced is AI going to get in these 3 years? Do writers now have a 3 year lifespan remanining?
Union contracts don’t just expire. The contract has a 3 year term. At that point, an updated contract will need to be negotiated. If the 3 year period ends without a new contract, but the new parties are still making progress in the negotiations, the workers will continue to work under the terms of the old contract until the new one is completed.
If the negotiations are not going well, if they reach an impasse, then strikes or lockouts can happen.
Regardless, any terms in a union contract cannot be removed unless both parties agree to their removal. AI advancement or decisions by the studios could very well lead to another strike in 3 years, but any terms related to AI, or any other language in the contract will not automatically disappear at the end of the 3 year term.
Yes but more like 5 to 10 then you will see the industry purge a lot of writers and actors.
So won’t this be rejected?
WGA negotiators claim they’re happy with the deal. I’m as confused as you seem to be.
WGA negotiators want to be called heros (and continue being paid to be negotiators), so of course they’ll say they won even if they didn’t.
It doesn’t work like that. They have to negotiate a deal that the members will vote for.
Negotiators: We won!
Members: Oh thank you, we were worried, we really need this over.
Someone who reads the fine print: Uh, this is terrible.
Large enough percentage of Members: Hey didn’t you hear them it’s over quit nitpicking!
So you think most of the writers are not readers and are stupid?
I think writers need this to be over so they can get back to work. This isn’t just fun summer break going on here, peoples lives are being put on hold. Doesn’t mean it’s a good deal though.
They can’t “get back to work” if AI is taking their work. I think they’re aware of that. But maybe they’re all idiots.
