Writers Guild demands studios prevent tech companies from unauthorized AI training

The growing tension between Hollywood’s creative community and artificial intelligence companies has reached a new inflection point as writers seek to protect their intellectual property from unauthorized AI training.

Key development: The Writers Guild of America has formally demanded that major Hollywood studios take legal action against tech companies that are using copyrighted content for AI training without permission or compensation.

• The guild’s leadership sent letters to major studios including Netflix, Warner Bros. Discovery, Disney, Paramount Global, NBCUniversal, Sony Pictures, and Amazon MGM Studios
• WGA cited existing collective bargaining agreements that require studios to defend copyrights on behalf of writers
• The studios have not yet publicly responded to these demands

Catalyst for action: Recent revelations about widespread unauthorized use of entertainment content in AI training have heightened concerns within the creative community.

• An Atlantic report exposed that subtitles from thousands of movies and TV episodes were included in AI training datasets used by companies like Meta and Anthropic
• The guild argues that studios have allowed tech companies to “plunder entire libraries without permission or compensation”
• This unauthorized use of content has directly harmed WGA members, according to the guild’s leadership

Industry context: The relationship between Hollywood studios and AI companies remains complex and evolving, with some studios cautiously exploring official partnerships.

• Lionsgate has partnered with AI startup Runway to develop AI tools for behind-the-scenes processes like storyboarding
• Other major studios have been hesitant to announce AI partnerships due to regulatory uncertainty and intellectual property concerns
• Questions remain about how to properly value studio libraries for AI training purposes

Regulatory landscape: The intersection of artificial intelligence and creative content remains largely uncharted territory from a legal perspective.

• Regulations governing AI’s use of copyrighted material are still evolving
• Legal questions surrounding AI training using copyrighted content remain largely unresolved
• Studios face challenges in balancing innovation opportunities with protecting valuable intellectual property

Looking ahead: While some studios are pursuing carefully structured AI partnerships, the WGA’s demands could force a broader industry reckoning over how creative content is used in AI development, potentially leading to new frameworks for licensing and compensation of intellectual property used in AI training.