Australia: Australian Competition and Consumer Commission opened consultation on determination denying authorisation for Screen Producers Australia to collectively bargain with streaming services on model contract terms

On 30 April 2026, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) opened a consultation on a determination denying authorisation for Screen Producers Australia to collectively bargain with streaming services over model contract terms, until 15 May 2026. It was stated that Screen Producers Australia, an industry body representing approximately 800 members, had sought a seven-year authorisation enabling its approximately 350 member producers to collectively negotiate with subscription video on demand (SVOD) providers to establish model terms of engagement governing licence periods, breadth of rights, exclusivity periods, copyright ownership, and dispute resolution procedures. The proposed conduct would have affected streaming platforms including Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, Paramount+, HBO Max, Stan, and Binge. It was stated that while the ACCC recognised that collective bargaining could produce public benefits through more efficient contracts for smaller producers with limited bargaining power, it concluded that these benefits would be outweighed by significant detriments, including the preclusion of mutually beneficial contracts with differing terms, the creation of industry reference points that reduce negotiating flexibility, and broader adverse effects on market responsiveness and competition.