Hopping from one job to another is pretty normal. Whether you’re looking to gain new experiences or a pay raise, there are many reasons to switch jobs. However, Disney isn’t too happy when one of its executives jumped ship to YouTube, so much so that it is now suing YouTube for poaching its employees.
Disney is suing YouTube
In a Bloomberg report, YouTube recently hired former Disney exec Justin Connolly. Connolly’s role at Disney involved streaming services and linear media networks. The report also claims that the exec was in the middle of leading Disney’s team in negotiating a license renewal with YouTube before he left the company.
After leaving Disney, Connolly will become YouTube’s global head of media and sports. This position will involve managing the relationship between YouTube and other media companies that distribute content on platforms like YouTube TV.
However, Disney isn’t too pleased with Connolly jumping ship. Disney is now suing YouTube and Connolly, claiming that YouTube had “induced” Connolly to breach a three-year employment contract. This contract would have kept Connolly as a Disney exec until at least the 1st of March, 2027, where Connolly could exercise an early termination option.
Disney says that because of Connolly’s role at the company and the insider knowledge he has, it is “prejudicial” to Disney, especially since YouTube and Disney are currently in the middle of negotiations.
“Critically, Connolly leads the Disney team negotiating a license renewal with YouTube. Connolly has intimate knowledge of Disney’s other distribution deals, the financial details concerning Disney’s content being licensed to YouTube, and Disney’s negotiation strategies, both in general and in particular with respect to YouTube. It would be extremely prejudicial to Disney for Connolly to breach the contract which he negotiated just a few months ago and switch teams when Disney is working on a new licensing deal with the company that is trying to poach him.”
YouTube’s evolution over the years
While YouTube started out as a platform for users to upload their own videos, it has grown and evolved over the years. Instead of just hosting user-uploaded content, YouTube has tried its hand at creating original series by working with creators. It has also started hosting TV content and live sports.
