WGA Sues to Block Paramount-Warner Bros. Merger, Alleging Writers Will Be Paid Less and Have Fewer Opportunities if Deal Goes Through
The Writers Guild of America West and Writers Guild of America East filed a lawsuit seeking to block Paramount Skydance‘s proposed $111 billion takeover...
Key points
- The Writers Guild of America West and Writers Guild of America East filed a lawsuit seeking to block Paramount Skydance‘s proposed $111 billion takeover of Warner Bros.
- It comes a day after 12 Democratic state attorneys general also filed an antitrust lawsuit to block the merger, alleging Paramount-WBD would have anticompetitive power in theatrical and basic cable TV markets.
- Writers will be paid less and have fewer employment opportunities,” the WGA complaint states.
- The complaint alleges the merger would “reduce opportunities, lower pay and worsen working conditions for writers,” according to the WGA.
What happened
The Writers Guild of America West and Writers Guild of America East filed a lawsuit seeking to block Paramount Skydance‘s proposed $111 billion takeover of Warner Bros. It comes a day after 12 Democratic state attorneys general also filed an antitrust lawsuit to block the merger, alleging Paramount-WBD would have anticompetitive power in theatrical and basic cable TV markets. Writers will be paid less and have fewer employment opportunities,” the WGA complaint states. The complaint alleges the merger would “reduce opportunities, lower pay and worsen working conditions for writers,” according to the WGA. Furthermore, the complaint asserts that the merger would increase the ability for the few remaining companies to tacitly coordinate to further suppress competition for writers’ work.” WGA West president Michele Mulroney said in a statement: “If Paramount succeeds in buying Warner Bros., the merged firm will be the largest buyer of original film and television programming in the United States. “The Writers Guild of America will not stand idly by as Paramount attempts to violate our country’s antitrust laws and deepen the contraction entertainment workers already feel,” said WGA East...