WWE sets the record straight on their new policy restricting talent from profiting off of mentions of third-party brands on social media.
On Monday, Wrestling Inc reported WWE had instituted a new policy in regards to mentions of third-party brand on Superstar social media accounts. According to the report, the company would start cracking down on talent that use their WWE social media accounts to promote third-party businesses, people, brands, and charities. The initial report claimed WWE is issuing a warning to first-time offenders of new restrictions, which would be followed by a fine and even a suspension for subsequent infractions.
Since then, WWE has clarified that report to F4WOnline.com and said that the new restrictions only apply to the monetization of WWE Superstar Twitter and Instagram accounts by working with third parties. It was noted that the new policy is “not dissimilar” to existing policies where they had banned talent from monetizing apps like Twitch and Cameo, but didn’t specifically include Twitter and Instagram at the time.
According to F4WOnline, the company stance is that they maintain contractual ownership of the likeness of its performers on all social media accounts regardless of whether they are listed under their stage names or real names.
Back in September, the promotion issued the following announcement about the decision to ban performers from monetizing platforms like Twitch and Cameo:
Much like Disney and Warner Bros., WWE creates, promotes, and invests in its intellectual property, i.e. the stage names of performers like The Fiend Bray Wyatt, Roman Reigns, Big E, and Braun Strowman. It is the control and exploitation of these characters that allows WWE to drive revenue, which in turn enables the company to compensate performers at the highest levels in the sports entertainment industry. Notwithstanding the contractual language, it is imperative for the success of our company to protect our greatest assets and establish partnerships with third parties on a companywide basis, rather than at the individual level, which as a result will provide more value for all involved.
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