HHR New Media, Entertainment and Technology Group

Impact of the Writers Guild Settlement On Digital Content Distribution
February 2008

E-Alert: Impact of the Writer’s Guild

In the coming days, the 10,500 striking members of The Writers Guild of America are expected to ratify a new, three-year agreement, which secures the writers a share of the digital media market by way of compensation for television programming and films delivered via the Internet and new media distribution platforms, including those delivered on an ad-supported basis. The proposed deal recognizes that the Internet is a primary means for content creation and delivery and firmly establishes the union’s jurisdiction over programming created for and distributed via new media outlets.

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A Congressional Foray Into the Net Neutrality Debate

On February 13th, 2008, Rep. Edward Markey, D-Mass., chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet, introduced a bill to promote the principle known as “Net neutrality,” which prevents Internet service providers from playing traffic cop with Web content based on its source, destination, or ownership. Continue Reading »