Hollywood producers blast actors over Internet clips issue

The studios, represented by the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, accused the Screen Actors Guild of misrepresenting its position on commercial use of actors' clips online.

The producers said they sought to pay actors a fixed fee for use of the clips.

On Tuesday, guild executive director Doug Allen told The Associated Press the producers sought to "evaporate" actors' rights to control use of their images.

"They want us to give up the 50-year-old right actors have to give consent or not when someone wants to use a clip of their work," Allen said.

The producers blasted the guild in a new statement Wednesday as they started talks with a smaller union, the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.

The alliance said its offer would streamline the process of using the clips.

"Will we be required to compete against agile opponents in the Internet age while constrained by 50-year-old rules, or can we collectively find ways to take advantage of fresh market opportunities?" it said.

On Tuesday the producers temporarily broke off talks with SAG after 18 days of negotiating. The producers offered to reopen talks with SAG at a later date.

The guild did not respond immediately to a request for comment Wednesday.