Quote:
Originally Posted by fjtorres
Their concern is that they have always colluded to set their rates (and most contract terms) and with the DOJ watching their moves for the *next few years* they would have to act independently and are terrified to have to actually calculate a fair royalty.
In their "defense", if one of them acts independently there is a chance agents might start agenting (for a change) and spawn bidding wars. And, again, with the feds watching...
Besides, it's better to keep on ripping off authors at 25% of (hollywood accounting) net.  |
Of such things collective agreements are made? Big companies often pay people as little as possible so their shareholders profits will be a penny or two more.
It is not really right IMO but I am lucky in that I can chose where I work. Perhaps that is luck or perhaps it is because I am competent.
Authors have more choices these days as do publishers. Publishers tried the power play and it seems to have failed as well it should have IMO.
Still for the most part it is a free world, and authors can charge what they wish and publishers can pay only what they want to pay. Both are free to look elsewhere contractual obligations aside. And no one signed these contracts at gunpoint AFAIK.
Helen