Warner Bros. Discovery Sues Amazon for Poaching Executives

Warner Bros. Discovery filed a lawsuit against Amazon on July 21, 2026, in the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles, alleging the technology giant engaged in a "lawless employee shopping spree." The entertainment studio claims Amazon illegally poached executives by inducing them to breach their term employment agreements through offers of superior pay and promises of legal indemnity.

The lawsuit centers on Pia Barlow, the former Senior Vice President of Marketing at HBO Max, who resigned in June 2026 to become the head of original series marketing at Amazon MGM Studios. Warner Bros. Discovery asserts that Barlow's contract was valid until October 31, 2027, and that Amazon knowingly induced her to break that agreement. The filing further alleges Amazon targeted other executives, including HBO programming head Francesca Orsi, whose contract runs through December 2027, though Orsi remained with the company.

Warner Bros. Discovery is seeking compensatory damages, punitive damages, and injunctive relief, citing intentional interference with contractual relations and unfair competition under California law. Amazon MGM Studios has declined to comment on the matter. The case may trigger broader legal debates regarding the enforceability of term employment agreements within the state of California.