The Department of Justice has reportedly issued a warning against possible rule changes that could keep Netflix out of the Oscars race.
According to Variety, the DOJ has expressed concerns in a letter to the CEO of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, stating that the potential new rules could violate antitrust regulations.
“In the event that the Academy – an association that includes multiple competitors in its membership — establishes certain eligibility requirements for the Oscars that eliminate competition without pro-competitive justification, such conduct may raise antitrust concerns,” the letter states as quoted by the website.
It was reported last month that Steven Spielberg, a member of the Academy, was among people looking to push for changes to eligibility rules to keep films released on streaming platforms from being included in the Academy Awards race.
The DOJ missive doesn’t appear to cite Netflix by name but specifically refers to streaming services, reading in part: “If the Academy adopts a new rule to exclude certain types of films, such as films distributed via online streaming services, from eligibility for the Oscars, and that exclusion tends to diminish the excluded films’ sales, that rule could therefore violate Section 1 [of the Sherman Act on antitrust law].”
Spielberg’s reported desire to bring about changes in eligibility rules came after Netflix scored several successes in the 2019 Oscars ceremony, with Alfonso Cuarón’s Roma taking Best Director, Best Foreign Language Film and Best Cinematography.
Last month, a spokesperson for Spielberg’s production company told IndieWire: “Steven feels strongly about the difference between the streaming and theatrical situation.
“He’ll be happy if the others will join [his campaign] when that comes up. He will see what happens.”
