Why is the Writers Guild of America accusing the US entertainment industry's biggest talent agencies of violating antitrust and anti-racketeering laws?
WGA West President David Goodman addresses crowds during the 2019 Writers Guild Awards ceremony on February 17, 2019 in Beverly Hills, California.
At issue are so-called packaging fees, where talent agencies combine elements including writers, scripts or actors –– most often on television series –– and sell them directly to studios as a unit. "We are simply asking the court to stop these agencies from illegally enriching themselves at the expense of writers," WGAW President David Goodman said in a statement.It first went to court in April, when the writers' union filed a lawsuit in California state court alleging violations of labour law.Named in Monday's filing are three of the four agencies that dominate Hollywood talent – Creative Artists Agency, William Morris Endeavor and United Talent Agency .
The suit said the union has organised an "unlawful group boycott" that it has coerced both members and non-members to join.
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