The day after 12 state attorneys general filed a lawsuit to block the Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger, the Writers Guild of America (WGA) initiated its own lawsuit aimed at halting this $111 billion mega deal. The guild claims that the merger violates antitrust laws and will negatively impact writers' salaries and working conditions by filing in federal court in Northern California.

The lawsuit states, "If Paramount succeeds in acquiring Warner Bros., the merged company will become the largest buyer of original films and television programs in the U.S., eliminating competition from a major film and television studio that has been operating for over a century." It emphasizes that this situation would reduce writers' chances of obtaining better conditions and higher pay.

The lawsuit continues, "The proposed Paramount-Warner Bros. merger threatens the economic and creative health of the American entertainment industry. This merger will eliminate competition for film and television writing, leading to lower compensation, worse deal terms, and a decrease in program diversity. This merger must be stopped."

Hollywood Reporter reached out to Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery for comments as defendants in the lawsuit. The Writers Guild states that the existing competition between the two major studios provides direct benefits to writers, allowing them to receive multiple offers for their works and create competition among studios. This also contributes to offering consumers a more diverse range of storytelling.