Writers Guild & Talent Agency Settle Antitrust Case

The Writers Guild and William Morris Endeavor Entertainment have reached a deal to end their antitrust case in a Los Angeles federal court and resolve the underlying dispute over a guild conflict-of-interest policy that led it to boycott of some of Hollywood’s top talent agencies, reported Bloomberg Law.

The two sides disclosed the settlement in a joint stipulation filed with the US District Court for the Central District of California, where they had faced off over measures the guild took to stop agencies from charging production studios for “packages” of talent and ideas.

Ever since the Summer of 2019 when the Hollywood war between its writers and top talent agencies got to court, a question has loomed over proceedings: Is the Writers Guild of America conducting legitimate union activity by ordering members to fire agents who won’t give up packaging fees and cap affiliate production? 

Both CAA and WME are currently pressing US District Court Judge Andre Birotte Jr. to immediately halt a boycott that they say is irreparably harming their business.

Previously in the case, after the talent agencies brought antitrust claims, the WGA sought dismissal on the basis that there were statutory and non-statutory labor exemptions from antitrust laws for circumstances when workers organize themselves to improve their working conditions. The topic was so important that the Department of Justice led by Donald Trump appointees filed an extremely rare statement of interest telling the judge to construe the labor exemption narrowly.

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