I don't even think the episodes had any characters he created, did they?

I don't even think the episodes had any characters he created, did they?

Yeah they did Clint and Bo were co-created by him

Did OLTL's online version use flashbacks from any episodes he wrote?

Did OLTL's online version use flashbacks from any episodes he wrote?

From what I remember, it didn't use any flashbacks at all

FB or not they used characters he helped create

Sounds like he negotiated a good contract, but an insane one for the network to have agreed to. They've been paying this guy a thousand dollars per week for doing nothing all this time? That's crazy.

Sounds like he negotiated a good contract, but an insane one for the network to have agreed to. They've been paying this guy a thousand dollars per week for doing nothing all this time? That's crazy.

It's indeed a very good contract; he made 1.43 million $ pre-tax in those nearly 30 years OLTL stayed on the air...

I wonder if other writers had similar clauses?

After reading the full story I find his lawsuit fascinating and I think he could succeed. The Hulu episodes contained his characters and were no rebroadcasts but new and therefore it does not seem out of hand that a Hulu streaming qualifies as a TV broadcast. BTW, I assume they either don't know it aired on OWN as well or are already certain that these would qualify as repeats not entitling him to anything.

Sounds like he negotiated a good contract, but an insane one for the network to have agreed to. They've been paying this guy a thousand dollars per week for doing nothing all this time? That's crazy.

Damn,I was born at the wrong time! (LOL).

I bet those type of 'in perpetuity' type contracts would not be offered nor accepted in this day and age (if it is, I must look into it )

The main issue, I think is whether the online versions are considered broadcast. If OWN broadcast is the main target in this lawsuit, then wouldn't it be along the lines of a re-transmission fee? It wasn't an original run, or does that not mean anything? If his counsel wins this one, I think the WGA/WGAE needs to get that guy/gal contracted somehow.

Edited January 9, 201412 yr by DramatistDreamer

I'm not going to bother to read about the lawsuit, but Sam Hall was a very good writer for OLTL, so I say give him what he wants.

The lawsuit in full

http://www-deadline-com.vimg.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/One-Life-To-Live-Writer-ABC-Hulu-lawsuit-1__140109200021.pdf

This whole thing will come down to how the law ends up interpreting the word broadcast, because that's what the contract stipulates: that he be paid weekly for as long as the show is broadcast. The contract does not specifically say "broadcast on network television" so it could be interpreted as broadcast at all, anywhere. But it was also drawn up at a time when cable was just becoming a viable platform and was basically an outlet for movies and sports, not reruns of network shows or original series. The current media environment, especially online, was inconceivable by either party at the time it was signed and certainly not what ABC envisioned when they agreed to it. It'll be very interesting to see how the letter of the contract is interpreted if this gets to a judge.

Well if they limit this to TV, Hall should still get paid for the OWN airings

Sounds like he negotiated a good contract, but an insane one for the network to have agreed to. They've been paying this guy a thousand dollars per week for doing nothing all this time? That's crazy.

Yup. Man I wish I was still paid by the companies I have parted ways with.

This is one of those moments you wish you had a time machine, so you could go back and get a rent-controlled place in Manhattan in perpituity, or work a ridiculous contract that ensures you get paid weekly for not working on a show in over 30 damn years.

Edited January 10, 201412 yr by Vee

we need to see a copy of the attachment...the original agreement! who has this?