Residues, royalties and an end to “exploitative practices” should be enshrined in UK law, according to the Writers’ Guild of Great Britain (WGGB), which has published a manifesto for the next government.
Along with calls for AI and fair treatment, WGGB's 'Putting Writers at the Center of Stories' document called for an end to 'perpetual buy-out' clauses and other exploitative practices through legislation demanding fair compensation for creators, including: Royalties and residuals.”
The document comes months after the US Writers Guild secured enhanced streaming residuals as part of a high-profile deal with AMPTP. However, in the UK, Deadline stated: doctor who After Disney+ came on board, we moved away from the residual model for writers.
Since then, the UK's WGGB has signed its first deal with Netflix for a live-action scripted series and achieved a 10% pay rise and residual improvements with the BBC.
While the WGGB did not specify its call for a “fair remuneration bill”, it was one of many demands included in the manifesto, which also included “greater income parity for people who create children's and animation content” and “deterrence measures” It is done. “Payments to freelance writers are late.”
“Enhanced Culture Testing”
Interestingly, the WGGB called for a “strengthened ‘culture test’ that recognizes the importance of UK-based writers and storytellers when creating work that qualifies for tax relief and other benefits.” One of America's production service industries
It also included “measures to protect UK talent, resources and intellectual property in an increasingly global industry” and “improved commissioning processes, including greater transparency around decision-making”.
In the copyright and AI sector, ‘clear labeling’ was requested for content created through AI. It also mentioned the establishment of “a new regulatory body to monitor and regulate the expansion of AI.”
The British general election will be held on July 4th, and opinion polls predict a change of government.
WGGB Secretary General Ellie Peers said: “Our members create characters, worlds and stories that delight audiences whether on the page, stage, screen or airwaves. This provides the fuel that fuels the creative industries, which in turn make a significant contribution to the UK economy. We urge whoever forms the next government to protect writers with fair pay and fair treatment, ensure the creative sector is sustainable and introduce strong protections for copyright in a world transformed by AI.”