Warner Bros. Discovery has filed a lawsuit against Amazon, accusing the company of deliberately poaching a senior HBO Max marketing executive who was under contract for more than a year longer.

The suit, filed on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, in the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles, centres on Pia Barlow — HBO Max's former executive vice president of originals marketing. Amazon MGM Studios announced Barlow as its new head of original series marketing on Friday, July 18, 2026, three days before the lawsuit was filed. According to the complaint, Barlow's employment contract with Warner Bros. was not set to expire until October 31, 2027 — meaning she left with over 16 months still on the clock. (The Hollywood Reporter)

Warner Bros. Discovery lays out four legal claims: breach of contract, intentional interference with contractual relations, intentional interference with prospective economic advantage, and unfair competition. The complaint describes Amazon's conduct as a "lawless employee shopping spree," according to Variety. (Variety)

The Barlow hire was not the first attempt, according to the suit. A few weeks before recruiting Barlow, Amazon allegedly tried to induce another Warner Bros. Discovery employee to break a fixed-term employment agreement expiring in December 2027. That earlier recruitment effort was unsuccessful — the unnamed executive stayed put. But Barlow, who oversaw marketing for HBO Max's original programming, did make the jump. (The Hollywood Reporter)

Warner Bros. Discovery is seeking compensatory damages, punitive damages, and injunctive relief — the last meaning a court order that could bar Amazon from continuing the conduct described in the complaint. (The Hollywood Reporter)

The case lands at a moment when both companies are competing head-to-head in streaming. Warner Bros. Discovery operates Max, its subscription service built around HBO's prestige library and original series. Amazon runs Prime Video, which sits inside the Prime membership bundle and has been expanding its slate of original programming through Amazon MGM Studios — the division Barlow was hired into. The complaint, in effect, argues that Amazon's competitive push extended beyond commissioning shows to dismantling a rival's marketing bench.

Neither Amazon nor Barlow has publicly responded to the lawsuit's claims. As of publication, no court date has been reported.