Recently, a dispute has arisen between Hollywood's actors union and an audio company, Formosa Interactive, over their involvement in the popular online multiplayer game, 'League of Legends.' The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) initiated a strike against 'League of Legends,' alleging that Formosa Interactive attempted to circumvent an ongoing video game strike by hiring non-union actors for an unrelated union title.
SAG-AFTRA claimed that Formosa Interactive tried to cancel the unnamed video game, covered by the strike, and when unsuccessful, transferred the game to a shell company and sought non-union talent only. This led the union's interactive negotiating committee to file an unfair labor practice charge against Formosa with the National Labor Relations Board, resulting in a strike against 'League of Legends.'
'League of Legends' is a prominent project for Formosa Interactive, known for providing voiceover services for the game. SAG-AFTRA accused Formosa of violating labor laws by interfering with performers' rights to unionize and preventing discrimination against union members.
Riot Games, the developer of 'League of Legends,' distanced itself from the dispute, stating that the company has always encouraged Formosa to engage with union performers and has never suggested otherwise. Riot Games clarified that the allegations made by SAG-AFTRA are related to a non-Riot game.
SAG-AFTRA's national executive director, Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, condemned Formosa's actions, emphasizing the importance of fair labor practices and union agreements in the entertainment industry. The union instructed its members to cease providing services to 'League of Legends,' which was previously unaffected by the strike.
The strike against major game companies, including Formosa, was initiated by SAG-AFTRA in July following failed negotiations over the union's interactive media agreement. The breakdown in talks was primarily due to concerns regarding the use of unregulated artificial intelligence in the industry.
Formosa's decision to allegedly engage in unfair labor practices has drawn criticism from SAG-AFTRA members, who view the company's actions as a betrayal of their commitment to union agreements and the rights of performers.
