Apple has agreed to the terms and conditions of the Writers Guild of America’s current master contract — a development that the WGA says will have major implications at the next round of contract talks, reports Variety.
WGA West president David A. Goodman and executive director David Young told members that the tech giant has agreed to terms that are above the minimum basic agreement if its programming is offered free to consumers online. Variety notes that this ensure that writers employed by Apple will be covered on issues such as script fees, weekly payments, and residuals for any show that airs free to the consumer.
“These deal terms are significant,” Goodman and Young said. “First, the current MBA does not contain minimums or residuals for projects on free-to-consumer services (think Crackle). Terms have to be negotiated on a writer by writer basis. Except, now, at Apple.”
Also, the work is covered only if it’s performed for the new signatory company, Apple Development LLC. The WGA represents TV and film writers.
Apple has 15 scripted series in the works. Upcoming original programming titles include “Amazing Stores,” “Are You Sleeping,” “Home,” “Little America,” “See,” “Swagger,” an untitled Damien Chazelle drama, an untitled Reese Witherspoon/Jennifer Anniston dreamed, “Dickinson” (a half-hour comedy starring Hailee Stenifeld), an untitled Ronald D. Moore drama, an untitled M. Night Shyamalan thriller series, a TV series adaption of “Foundation,” the Isaac Asimov science fiction novel trilogy, and the half-hour dramedy “Little Voices” from producers J.J. Abrams and Sara Bareilles.
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