Writers create the characters, create the dialogue, create the stories for the shows Americans watch on TV and in the movie theaters. They want a fair cut of the money that's being made from their labor. Those braying about this would freak out if their own work were being sold for others' profit on the internet, or had future profits kept by producers.
What will be interesting is seeing how people will realize that these goofy stars they think somehow just come up with all this stuff they say don't actually think for themselves.
I agree with this assessment. By extension then, one could infer writers bear a great deal of responsibility for the cultural degradation in the U. S. over the past 50 years or so. I'm hoping this strike will lessen Hollywood's influence on the culture.
That is exactly what an employee does in every/any field of endeavor.
Relax. It’s got nothing to do with principles. Little does these days.
I’m pretty much firmly on the writer’s side. They screwed up with the DVD residuals and are simply not trying to make the same mistake again.
First off, as an engineer my patents are meaningless past 15 to 30 years. I do NOT have the ability to make money off my work indefinitely, as Hollywood now does. So forgive me for not being overly concerned about the writers or any of the other arts folks problems.
When the LIMITED TIMES that an author gets to hold their work EXACTLY matches the LIMITED TIMES which an inventor gets to hold exclusive rights to their work, I'll take the writers side in this. The notion that because my work is deemed more important to society than their work, I am entitled to profit off it for a far shorter period than they are allowed, is hypocritical.
If the unionized writers would support a single legal definition of "limited times", I would be 100% behind them.