Barry Diller, president and CEO of IAC/InterActiveCorp.
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Failing to resolve the double strike by the Hollywood Screen Actors and Screenwriters Association will lead to “unforeseen consequences if not resolved soon”. IAC And Expedia President Barry Diller said in an interview on CBS’ “Face the Nation” on Sunday.
Diller, a former Image is paramount CEO, predicted a domino effect if the double strike is not resolved quickly.
“These conditions have the potential to create the absolute collapse of the entire industry,” he said.
If studio executives and associations can’t reach an agreement for a few more months, Diller predicts, there will be less shows for consumers to watch, which will lead to streaming subscription cancellations. online and reduce revenue for the entertainment industry. That means by the time the strikes are resolved, there won’t be enough money to support the programs.
However, an early settlement seems unlikely, Diller said, because “there is no trust between the parties.”
He points to “issues that exist” including the development of artificial intelligence, whereby associations say they want an opinion on how it will be used, as well as disparities. wage gap between the highest and lowest earners in the industry.
To reduce that disparity, top studio executives and top-paid actors could take a 25% pay cut as a “goodwill measure” to try to “narrow the gap,” Diller said. difference between the well-paid and the un-paid.”
He also suggested there should be a “resolution deadline” of September 1.
Diller specifically mentioned AI in the interview, which he called “overstated to death” about its impact on the work of screen writers and actors.
“Writers will be supported, not displaced,” Diller said. “Most of these crafts represent reality, I don’t think they’re in danger with artificial intelligence.”
Diller is more concerned with the impact of AI on the publishing industry, foreshadowing a possible lawsuit against a group of “top publishers,” though he declined to go into specifics, including including when a complaint can be filed.
Diller says top AI companies Google And Microsoft “wanted to find a solution for publishers.”
However, he added, “The problem is that they also say that the fair use doctrine of the copyright law allows them to pull in all of this. We, the publisher, disagree with that. “
Microsoft declined to comment, and Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Diller said AI companies must come up with a fair business model before using a publisher’s copyrighted work. He said the situation was similar to the decision of publishers to provide free access to material on the internet in its early days, while still relying on advertising revenue.
“It took 15 years to restore the premium wall that protected publishers,” says Diller.
“I think litigation will hopefully lead to reasonable legislation here,” he said. “Unless you protect the copyright, all is lost.”
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