Warner Bros. Discovery Takes Legal Action Against Amazon Over HBO Max Executive Hire, Seeks Injunction Against Future Poaching

A recent lawsuit filed by Warner Bros. Discovery against Amazon alleges that the tech giant poached a high-ranking HBO Max marketing executive, Pia Barlow, 16 months before her contract was set to expire. The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court on July 21, includes a unique request for a court order preventing Amazon from hiring any Warner Bros. Discovery employees currently under contract.

Barlow, who had been with HBO Max for a significant period, was announced as Amazon MGM Studios’ new head of series marketing just last week. Her contract with Warner Bros. Discovery was supposed to run until October 2027. She resigned in June and was scheduled to start her new role at Amazon on August 3.

Warner Bros. Discovery accuses Amazon of aggressively attempting to recruit several other contracted employees, referring to the company as a “digital bull in a china shop” for opting to poach talent from Hollywood rather than hiring independently.

According to the lawsuit, Amazon had previously tried to recruit another Warner Bros. Discovery executive under contract through December 2027 but was unsuccessful. The complaint also mentions Amazon’s pursuit of at least one more employee at the time of filing.

The departure of Pia Barlow has reportedly caused unrest within Warner Bros. Discovery’s executive ranks, with concerns raised about contractual commitments being disregarded in favor of higher paychecks.

Amazon declined to comment on the matter when approached by GeekWire for a response.

The company’s acquisition of MGM in 2022 for $8.5 billion marked its second-largest purchase after Whole Foods in 2017. The deal brought Amazon a vast library of films and TV shows, leading to the rebranding of MGM Studios as Amazon MGM Studios in 2023, under the leadership of Mike Hopkins.

Meanwhile, Warner Bros. Discovery is currently in the process of being acquired by Paramount Skydance for approximately $81 billion. However, the deal faces opposition from 12 state attorneys general, with a potential closing deadline pushed to as late as June 2027.

The lawsuit goes on to allege that Amazon not only recruited Barlow but also selected her legal representation. Warner Bros. Discovery claims that the law firm now representing Barlow has close ties to Amazon, with the tech giant allegedly covering legal fees. The specific firm is not named in the complaint.

Barlow, who resides and works in Los Angeles, is not listed as a defendant in the lawsuit.

Prior to filing the lawsuit, Warner Bros. Discovery’s legal team engaged in correspondence with Amazon and Barlow’s attorney, demanding that Barlow honor her contract. The allegation regarding legal fees being paid by Amazon is based on the legal term “information and belief,” suggesting an inference rather than direct evidence.