Playwright Licensing and Antitrust

Senator Hatch recently inroduced the Playwrights Licensing Antitrust Initiative Act of 2004 in the Senate. (S. 2349). According to the Bill,

the antitrust laws shall not apply to any joint discussion, . . . or agreement for the express purpose of, and limited to the development of a standard form contracting minum terms of artistic production and levels of compensation for playwrights.

The Bill appears to essentially allow playwrights to collectively bargain against producers. Arthur Miller testified in favor of the legislation.

His testimony came 48 years after he was cited for contempt for not cooperating with the House Un-American Activities Committee. He was also blacklisted by Hollywood for refusing to identify fellow artists with possible links to the Communist Party.

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