Warner Bros. Discovery has sued Amazon, alleging that the company illegally recruited staff who remained bound by fixed-term employment contracts. The dispute highlights tensions between Hollywood’s use of long-term executive agreements and technology companies expanding their entertainment businesses.

The lawsuit centres on Pia Barlow, Warner’s former senior vice-president for originals marketing, who is due to become Amazon’s head of original series marketing on 3 August despite a Warner contract running until 31 October 2027. Warner alleges Amazon offered her higher pay and legal support to breach the agreement, and says the recruitment effort may extend to other executives, including HBO drama chief Francesca Orsi. Similar disputes have previously involved YouTube and Disney, while 20th Century Fox successfully sued Netflix over executive hires.