WB takes Amazon to court over hire of HBO Max marketing exec

Warner Brothers Discovery has filed a lawsuit against Amazon, accusing the company of hiring an HBO Max executive who was still under contract and trying to recruit other employees before their agreements ended. The lawsuit, filed this week, claims Amazon interfered with Warner Bros.' contractual relationships, breached contracts and engaged in unfair competition. According to the complaint, Amazon hired Pia Barlow, a marketing executive who recently joined Amazon MGM Studios, even though her employment contract with Warner Bros. was due to run until October 31, 2027.Warner Bros. claims Amazon targeted employees under contractAccording to the lawsuit, Amazon has been "hurriedly seeking to pirate away a number of contracted employees," including Barlow. Warner Bros. claims Barlow's employment agreement was still valid when she left for Amazon MGM Studios.The company also accused Amazon of encouraging another Warner Bros. employee to leave before the end of their contract, which was due to expire in December 2027. That executive, believed to be HBO programming executive Francesca Orsi, ultimately remained with Warner Bros.In the lawsuit, Warner Bros. said Amazon ignored California law while recruiting employees who were still under fixed-term agreements.Here’s what the lawsuit says"In blatant disregard of established California law, Amazon has gone rogue by attempting to induce Plaintiffs' employees with term employment agreements to breach those agreements with impunity, backed up with the ready assurance that Amazon will defend and indemnify them should they be held to account for their blatantly unlawful acts," Warner Bros. said in the complaint. The lawsuit also includes claims of interference with contractual relations, breach of contract and unfair competition.According to Deadline, the case is expected to revive debate over whether fixed-term employment agreements are legally enforceable under California law.Get the latest technology news and updates. Download the TOI App.