Video game performers vote on contract that could end nearly 3-year battle over AI
Los Angeles – The results of a member of the union vote on a provisional contract between video game artists and their employers are expected on Wednesday evening.
If it is ratified, the contract would officially end an effort of almost three years of the Federation of television artists and radio artists and radio negotiators to obtain a new contract for video game artists. The process, which included an 11 -month strike against several major game manufacturers, included the way artificial intelligence would affect industry artists.
If it is approved, the agreement will provide compensation increases, control the resemblances of the interpreters and the protections of artificial intelligence. The contract was concluded for the first time in early June between the union and an industry negotiation group made up of several major video game companies, including Activision and Electronic Arts divisions. The strike of almost a year was suspended on June 11 and around 3,000 members of the SAG-Aftra covered by the interactive media agreement had had since June 18 to vote.
The results will be announced shortly after the vote at 5 p.m. in the Pacific.
The 11-month strike “was an exhausting and excruciating process,” said Duncan Croubtree-Ireland, said National Executive Director of Sag-Aftra and chief negotiator before the voting period.
“I hope and I believe that our members, when they come back to it, will say that all the sacrifices and difficulties that we have started to achieve this agreement are finally worth it because we have the key elements that we must feel confident and move forward in this business,” said Crabree-Ireland.
The new contract secures AI protections “at the head of the industry,” said Audrey Cooling, spokesperson for video game producers involved in the agreement. The proposed contract delimits clear restrictions at the moment and the way in which video game companies can create digital aftershocks, which use AI to generate new performances that have not been recorded by an actor.
Employers must obtain the written authorization of an artist to create a digital replica – consent which must be granted during the life of the interpreter and is valid after the death, unless otherwise indicated, indicates the contract.
The time spent creating a digital replica will be offset as working time, according to the agreement. The agreement also obliges the employer to provide the artist with a report of use which details the way in which the replica was used and calculates the expected compensation.
The contract also obtained an increase in performance remuneration of just over 15% after ratification and an additional increase of 3% each year of the three -year contract.
The increase in awareness and knowledge of the new provisions of AI among the members of the union is crucial in the future if the contract is ratified, said Sarah Elmaleh, actor of the voice and president of the negotiation committee of the interactive branch of the union, told the Associated Press before the closure of the voting period.
“In fact, the application of these railings in our work will make sure that the members pay attention, understanding what they should seek, be engaged with their union and report things that seem shady or that are in fact violations,” she said.
