The Vereinte Dienstleistungsgewerkschaft (ver.di) and the acting union Bundesverband Schauspiel e.V. (BFFS) have, according to Press Release Together with the production alliance, the German Federal Film Board defined new conditions for the use of generative artificial intelligence in film productions. This also brought the collective bargaining negotiations on this topic to a successful conclusion. The collective bargaining partners had already reached agreements on new agreements for the TV FFS and the collective agreement for actors, on company pension schemes and on young talent films.

"Following the initial successes of the US film unions, BFFS and ver.di have jointly set new collective bargaining standards. Although not all the effects of the use of AI have yet been conclusively clarified, we were able to implement decisive protection mechanisms, more co-determination, a transparency obligation and financial compensation payments as collective bargaining claims against the negative consequences of the technological transformation in film production. While the first agreement ensures protection for actors and actresses, the next agreement will also cover other creative professions behind the camera," explained Christoph Schmitz-Dethlefsen from the ver.di Federal Executive Board.

Heinrich Schafmeister from the BFFS emphasised: "This agreement on AI is probably the first of its kind in Germany at collective bargaining level. Our aim was to work together with our collective bargaining partners to organise the use of generative AI in such a responsible way that employers do not miss out on technological progress, while at the same time protecting our work. With this agreement, we have taken an important first step and are optimistic about the future."

The new tariff regulation specifically concerns the use of generative AI, a technology that learns patterns from training data and generates new content using algorithms. Conventional AI applications, which are used to change voice or image material in post-production, for example, are not covered by this regulation. The current collective agreement initially focuses on the acting performance, especially if it is edited or remodelled by generative AI or replaced by so-called replicas, i.e. digital reproductions of the actors and actresses. Clear regulations on consent and remuneration are intended to ensure that digital replicas are not used without the consent of the actors concerned.

The new collective agreement will come into force on 1 March 2025 and will initially apply until 30 June 2026. It will be evaluated every six months to take account of the rapid developments in AI technology in the film industry. The trade unions plan to use this agreement as a basis for extending protection to other film professions.

Source: ver.di press officeContact Daniela Milutin, 030/6956-1011 or -1012, pressestelle@verdi.de