LOS ANGELES — The Writers Guild of America sued the entertainment industry’s four biggest talent agencies Wednesday in the latest and boldest move in an increasingly bitter and protracted fight between the two sides over the way Hollywood does business. The practice, common for decades in Hollywood, has brought negotiations to a halt between agents and writers, who say they can no longer tolerate it. It asks that a judge declare packaging fees unlawful and prohibit the agencies from entering into new agreements based on them. Named as defendants are the agencies that dominate Hollywood, often called the “Big Four”: William Morris Endeavor Entertainment, Creative Artists Agency, United Talent Agents and ICM Partners. Writers’ objections to packaging fees have fueled heated negotiations in recent months between agencies and the guild.

Source: National Post April 17, 2019 18:56 UTC