Writer's Guild strike ends -- new guidelines for AI

The Writer's Guild of America (WGA) strike lasted 148 days. It started a wave of entertainment guild strikes. The stakes are high. These strikes are about more than long overdue pay raises. They raise awareness about the impact of AI generated images and stolen creative work. 

You can't create art out of thin air. Or regurgitate it from previous incarnations. You can't value creativity.. and enjoy all its forms... then find ways to exploit it. 

Corporate takeovers of Studios add a glittering brand names to their portfolios.. then ravage the creative staff that maintained the legacy built by generations of filmmakers, craftspersons, and artists on all levels. 

 Art comes from the soul. It takes years of nurturing. Art takes toil. It's not for reaping. Art deserves respect. And so do artists.

(graphics used in this post are from the WGA Facebook page)

The WGA strike settled with a agreements on a new 2023 Minimum Basic Agreement (MBA) -- the baseline contract all signatory companies (like the major studios/networks) must honor when hiring Guild members. This 2023 MBA includes guidelines (and prohibitions) regarding the use of AI content. This MBA will be in effect until May 1, 2026.

Here are the MBA summary bullet points that address AI

You can read more of the complete summary of the new MBA here.https://www.wgacontract2023.org/the-campaign/summary-of-the-2023-wga-mba?mibextid=

Further reading on the contract materials, and strike termination here: https://www.wgacontract2023.org/the-campaign/tentative-agreement?fbclid=

These links have press coverage on the end of the strike:  

Hollywood Reporter   https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/writers-guild-strike-end-1235600992/

CNBC  https://www.cnbc.com/2023/09/26/hollywood-writers-strike-to-end-on-wednesday-as-wga-amptp-finalize-labor-contract.html#:~:text=Hollywood%20writers%20and%20studios%20have,WGA%20said%20in%20a%20statement.

Vox https://www.vox.com/culture/2023/9/24/23888673/wga-strike-end-sag-aftra-contract

More blog posts on AI: http://stuartngbooks.blogspot.com/2023/08/deciphering-ai-images-clues-to-look-for.html

http://stuartngbooks.blogspot.com/2023/08/articles-on-ai-and-image-scraping-83123.html

http://stuartngbooks.blogspot.com/2023/09/copyright-trademark-and-ai-image.html