No AI-Generated Works In Hollywood? The Writers Guild Of America Is Considering Prohbiting It During Their Contract Negotiations

TV & Film

Mar 27

The Writers Guild of America (WGA) has begun negotiations with studios to ensure AI-developed content within upcoming contract negotiations with the union is banned. From utilizing the technology as source material to works created entirely from AI to using the technology for editing purposes, the guild hopes to prohibit any use of technology from any upcoming projects. The WGA issued a statement saying, “The WGA’s proposal to regulate use of material produced using artificial intelligence or similar technologies ensures the Companies can’t use AI to undermine writers’ working standards including compensation, residuals separated rights and credits.”

An appropriate use of the technology by the WGA’s standards is within the scope of the collective bargaining agreement with a studio saying, “point[ing] to a Wikipedia article, or other research material, and ask[ing] the writer to refer to it.” The guild was quick to point out as well how AI-created or edited material is “...not eligible for copyright protection, nor can an AI software program sign a certificate of authorship. To the contrary, plagiarism is a feature of the AI process.” The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) representatives could not indicate how the AMPTP would receive the Writers Guild of America’s proposal.

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