The Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) recently launched a tiered budget for developers or interim agreements. As the union prepares to resume negotiations with video game developers/ publishers, it has revealed that “more than 120 games from 49 companies” and counting have signed the interim agreement.
Interactive Media Agreement Negotiating Committee Chair, Sarah Elmaleh
SAG-AFTRA said it created the new tiered-budget agreement to make it possible for indie developers to hire professional talents. In the tiered budget independent interactive media agreement, indie developers will get a discount on hiring SAG-AFTRA talents depending on their budget.
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According to SAG-AFTRA, the key dispute issue has been “the union’s demand for proper consent, compensation, and transparency around the use of AI, for all members who work the contract”.
SAG-AFTRA said the new contracts “contain the same common-sense, foundational AI protections that SAG-AFTRA members are asking for in the Interactive Media Agreement,” adding that this “demonstrate[es] that the provisions are fair and achievable, and provide employment opportunities to members during work stoppage”.
“Humane protections for actors against AI exploitation are not an unreasonable ask – and the success of these contracts shows that most companies agree,” said Interactive Media Agreement Negotiating Committee chair, Sarah Elmaleh.
“They are happy to embrace fundamental, ethical guidelines around this tool – alongside equitable accommodation of it – in order to collaborate with professional talent. And talent are likewise eager and delighted to partner with companies that respect them.”
“We’ve had over 120 contracts signed and there’s no sign of things slowing down,” added SAG-AFTRA national executive director & chief negotiator, Duncan Crabtree-Ireland.
“As we return to negotiations tomorrow, I hope we are able to reach an agreement on our Interactive Media Agreement, but if not, we will keep on working with the companies that are prepared to agree to fair, ethical, and responsible contract terms, including for the use of artificial intelligence.”
