Netflix has just become the first non-Hollywood studio to join the movie industry trade association that represents the six major film studios in Hollywood.
Netflix became the first streaming service to join the organization on the same day that they received their first Academy Award nomination for best picture. Roma was the first film from a streaming service to be nominated for the prestigious award. Netflix received 15 total nominations for Roma, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, and two documentaries.
Disney, Fox, Sony, Paramount, Universal, and Warner Bros., the six current members, all endorsed the addition of Netflix to the organization.
MPAA CEO Charles Rivkin said “All of our members are committed to pushing the film and television industry forward, in both how we tell stories and how we reach audiences. Adding Netflix will allow us to even more effectively advocate for the global community of creative storytellers, and I look forward to seeing what we can all achieve together.”
The MPAA is a trade organization that advocates for the movie industry in the form of strong copyrights, expanding market access, and fighting piracy.
According to Politico, Netflix and Amazon have been working with the MPAA on anti-piracy measures since 2017. As Fox and Disney merge and the MPAA loses a member, they face a loss of $10 to $12 million in annual dues, which they hope to make up with the addition of Netflix. There are rumors that Amazon could be the next service to join.