I know this is temping but if you support the writers! PLEASE do not download any digital media! The wirters currently do not recieve any residuals on stuff that is purchased via digital downloads.

You are only supporting the studios if you buy downloadable video.

If you want something to buy then buy the DVD instead, at least the writers and others receive some sort of residuals from those sales.

For more info please visit fans4writers

[ edited by RavenU on 2007-12-11 16:14 ]

RavenU | December 11, 15:42 CET

Good call, RavenU.

And, that's not even a great price...the slim sets are selling at $19.99 a season on Amazon right now. At $1.99 an episode, that'd be nearly $44 a season.

Chris inVirginia | December 11, 18:22 CET

You might want to rephrase this in such a way as not to look like spam.

Simon | December 11, 18:37 CET

I thought they do pay residuals on paid-for downloads, same as the DVD rate. It's "Promotional" ad-supported downloads that they're not paying the writers for.
Either way, an email to Vudu saying you would download but won't until the WGA get a deal couldn't hurt.

zz9 | December 11, 19:42 CET

Nope. Writers do not see a penny of income from downloads such as Vudu or iTunes. That is one of things they are fighting for.

Buy the DVD - at least they get a few cents out of it.

The Hey | December 11, 20:07 CET

Some residuals have been paid from iTunes (see here).

ETA: from the WGA's site:


[ edited by jam2 on 2007-12-11 17:42 ]

jam2 | December 11, 20:30 CET

Jam2 - You need to put it in the full context.

WGA Proposal: We propose all TV and theatrical content earn a residual payment of 2.5% of the distributor’s gross for re-use on non-traditional media, including the Internet, cellular technology and any other delivery system not already covered in the MBA.

Current Provision/Practice: The WGA position is that the MBA residual formulas for pay TV and basic cable apply to content streamed or downloaded via the Internet and cellular technology. These formulas are 1.2% for features whether streamed or downloaded, 1.2% for TV product when the viewer pays, and 2.0% for post-1984 TV product or 2.5% for pre-1984 TV product when it is free to the viewer. The studios are refusing to pay anything for streaming that is free to the viewer (and ad-supported), and they are paying the 0.3% home video residual when the viewer pays. This dispute is the subject of claims filed against the studios by the WGA (and by SAG and DGA as well).


It is the AMPTP's claim that download falls under the home entertainment contract and that they will only receive .3%, in the new contract. The WGA has currently refused to accept the agreement as it stands, had they accepted the agreement they would have lost a primary ammount of their footing in the negosiations, so as of now they still recieve nothing from paid digital downloads. It would also impacted the claims filed if they were to actually accept the payment.

[ edited by RavenU on 2007-12-11 18:23 ]

RavenU | December 11, 21:20 CET

Yeah, I wish there were clearer info on this one way or the other. Evidently, Lost writers have gotten something (a check to Damon Lindelof for $455.05 is mentioned) but that may have more to do with Lost being one of the first shows where this issue came up. I have seen hints that the WGA isn't accepting residuals from this "hated" formula, such as the "dispute" allusion quoted above, but I haven't seen anything definite on that.

(BTW, lest it seem otherwise, I support the writers in the strike. I'm just trying to figure out if buying from iTunes is any worse than buying a DVD at the moment.)

jam2 | December 12, 00:56 CET

There is also a difference between the MBA and other negosiations such as with head writers, producer, and creators, who tend to get a bigger piece of the pie. That may be why he is getting a check, because he negositated it into his contract with the studio. The WGA is striking about what comes with the MBA (minimum basic agreement) that a writer starting out on a show or in the industry would be entitled to for giving up partial copyrights to their work.

[ edited by RavenU on 2007-12-12 01:12 ]

RavenU | December 12, 01:58 CET