Having entered London’s High Court yesterday, UK actors union Equity and casting platform Spotlight will now have to wait weeks for a decision over a landmark case that could radically alter the landscape for how British actors obtain work.
The pair spent around two and a half hours in court yesterday giving respective arguments to the judge, we are told.
The judge will now read all evidence submitted and consider oral submissions before sending the decision to the respective lawyers. Sources who were present told us this decision will likely not arrive until at least September, as the UK legal system soon enters the summer recess.
Equity is seeking a change in law that would require Spotlight be classed as an employment agency, meaning its fees would “be no more than a reasonable estimate of the cost of production,” according to the particulars of the union’s claim, which Deadline has seen. There would also be “an order that Spotlight state how it assesses” this estimate, per the claim, plus a “declaration that any person who subscribes to Spotlight is entitled to full access” including benefits offered as an addition to its basic membership tier.
Equity has said Spotlight charges exorbitant membership fees of £198 ($268) per year standard rate and “exploits its monopoly position in the industry,” given that the vast majority of UK productions cast via Spotlight. It alleges that Spotlight has hiked prices by 30% since the platform was acquired by American firm Talent Systems LLC in 2021.
In response, Spotlight has questioned why it is being singled out while its CEO has pointed out that the firm’s fees rose 9% below inflation between 2010 and 2025. Speaking on a Spotlight podcast earlier this month, Matt Hood contrasted this rise with Equity subs, which he said shot up by around 18.5% this past year and are “about 20% higher than they would have been had just inflation taken them.”
We revealed on Monday that Equity is also ramping up a campaign to stop agents charging levels of commission that leaves some of its members earning below minimum wage.
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