wga-ai-contract-provisions

The 2023 Minimum Basic Agreement (MBA) established specific legal constraints on the use of generative artificial intelligence in covered writing work Verified Answer #1. These provisions dictate that AI cannot write or rewrite literary material, and AI-generated output is not considered source material Verified Answer #1. Studios are prohibited from requiring writers to use generative AI tools in their services Verified Answer #1. Additionally, companies must disclose to writers if any material provided to them has been generated by AI Verified Answer #1.

Compensation and Credit Protections

The contract prevents studios from using AI to dilute a writer's credit or separated rights Verified Answer #1. For example, if a company provides a writer with an unpublished AI-generated screenplay, that writer is treated as the first writer rather than a rewriter for compensation purposes Verified Answer #1. This prevents studios from handing a writer an AI-generated script and paying only a lower rewrite fee Verified Answer #1.

Limitations and Industry Adoption

While the agreement constrains specific uses of AI, there is no public evidence that it has reduced the overall volume of studio AI use since ratification Verified Answer #1. The 2023 MBA did not establish public reporting metrics, usage caps, or industry-wide disclosure datasets for AI use Verified Answer #1. Evidence suggests studios continue to adopt generative AI in areas outside of screenwriting, such as Lionsgate's 2024 partnership with Runway to train a custom AI video model for pre-production and post-production Verified Answer #1. Furthermore, the WGA reserves rights regarding the use of covered material for AI training, which remains an unresolved issue Verified Answer #1.