Hollywood unions set video game strike vote

No_Style · May 25, 2005, 10:15 PM

Two of the key unions representing actors have asked their members to authorize a strike against the video game industry after talks on a new master agreement between the two sides broke down.

Materials were sent on Tuesday to about 1,900 members of the Screen Actors Guild and 1,000 members of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.

Those unions both require "super-majority" approvals from their members--75 percent for SAG and 66.7 percent for AFTRA--before their national bodies can formally authorize the strike.

The previous contract between game publishers and the unions expired last December, and after repeated extensions talks collapsed earlier this month.

The games industry said the biggest sticking point was residuals, or ongoing payments to actors and actresses for each copy of a game sold to which they contributed, including their voices and likenesses.

The unions wanted residual payments on games that sell more than 400,000 units, while the game publishers wanted only to make single up-front payments to talent.

Results of the strike vote are expected on June 7.
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Source: C|Net Tech News

Bruuce · May 25, 2005, 11:31 PM

The Hollywood movie community make up the most greediest of people these days. If it doesn't have Ben Franklin on it, it don't make sense. /puke

Dyre Straits · May 26, 2005, 08:22 AM

This could be one of those ugly domino-effect situations. If the actors can win on the grounds that they 'own' the rights to the character they portrayed, then it stands to reason that the movie studio that produced the movie in which the character appeared could claim that IT owns the rights to the character and any portrayal of that character anywhere/anytime/under any circumstances.

Then, if the studios make this claim and win, what about the author of the story that was made into the movie? After all, the author is the one who created the character to begin with.

So, just who does own the rights to these characterizations?

It seems to me that the actors are biting off their nose to spite their face.

May 25, 2005, 10:15 PM	#1
No_Style Styleless Wonder Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Ottawa, Ontario Posts: 6,034 Rep Power: 0	Hollywood unions set video game strike vote Two of the key unions representing actors have asked their members to authorize a strike against the video game industry after talks on a new master agreement between the two sides broke down. Materials were sent on Tuesday to about 1,900 members of the Screen Actors Guild and 1,000 members of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. Those unions both require "super-majority" approvals from their members--75 percent for SAG and 66.7 percent for AFTRA--before their national bodies can formally authorize the strike. The previous contract between game publishers and the unions expired last December, and after repeated extensions talks collapsed earlier this month. The games industry said the biggest sticking point was residuals, or ongoing payments to actors and actresses for each copy of a game sold to which they contributed, including their voices and likenesses. The unions wanted residual payments on games that sell more than 400,000 units, while the game publishers wanted only to make single up-front payments to talent. Results of the strike vote are expected on June 7. _______________ Source: C\|Net Tech News __________________ "The Best Style Is No Style" Specifications Here

May 25, 2005, 11:31 PM	#2
Bruuce DriverHeaven Winner Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 293 Rep Power: 0	The Hollywood movie community make up the most greediest of people these days. If it doesn't have Ben Franklin on it, it don't make sense. /puke __________________