Warner Bros. Sues Amazon Over Poaching of HBO Max Exec Pia Barlow, Alleging 'Lawless Employee Shopping Spree'

Lawsuit filed

Warner Bros. Discovery filed a lawsuit against Amazon on Tuesday, July 21, in a dispute over employee poaching. The suit, brought in California, alleges intentional interference with contractual relations, breach of contract, intentional interference with prospective economic advantage, and unfair competition. The complaint states that Amazon engaged in what the studio calls a "lawless employee shopping spree."

Amazon has chosen to ride on the coattails of other well-established Hollywood mainstays.

Pia Barlow's departure

The case centers on Pia Barlow, the former executive vice president of originals marketing at HBO Max. Barlow was announced as Amazon MGM Studios' new head of original series marketing on Friday, July 24. The lawsuit contends that Barlow was under a term employment agreement that did not expire until October 31, 2027.

Though it was aware of Barlow's ongoing contractual commitment to WMS, of which WBD is a beneficiary, Amazon has brazenly and deliberately induced Barlow to breach the employment agreement by packing up and decamping to Amazon more than 16 months before its expiration.

Warner Bros. alleges that Amazon offered Barlow a higher pay package and promised legal support if the studio pursued action for breach of contract. Barlow is scheduled to start her new role on August 3.

Wider poaching claims

The lawsuit goes beyond Barlow, claiming that Amazon has targeted other Warner Bros. employees. According to the complaint, a few weeks before the Barlow move, Amazon attempted to induce another WBD executive to break a contract that runs through December 2027. That effort failed, the suit says. Separately, Deadline reported that Francesca Orsi, HBO's head of drama series and films, is believed to be among Amazon's other targets. Warner asserts that "Barlow is not the first (nor, apparently, the last) WBD employee that Amazon has targeted or will target in the future."

Industry friction over term contracts

Term employment agreements, which bind executives for a fixed period, are standard in Hollywood but less common in the tech industry. The clash has already produced legal battles. YouTube settled with Disney after hiring veteran executive Justin Connolly, and 20th Century Fox won a suit against Netflix over the poaching of two executives. Warner Bros. Discovery is now seeking compensatory damages, punitive damages, and an injunction to stop further poaching.