A Landmark Hollywood Law Has Been Revoked—Will Disney, Amazon, and Netflix Seize the Moment?

Paramount was the primary defendant alongside MGM, Warner Bros., 20th Century Fox, RKO, comprising the “Big Five” of the era, with Columbia Pictures, Universal Pictures, and United Artists, known as the “Little Three.” The decrees are often cited as a significant turning point for the end of the classic studio system, allowing independent producers to compete for audience share and direct access to actors.