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WB Games

OVERALL

Owned
USA
Rating
Criticisms

Video games

Video games division of AT&T's Warner Media subsidiary, Warner Bros Home Enertainment. Has acquired several game studios including Monolith Productions, TT Games, Midway Games and Rocksteady Studios.

Company Ownership

Warner Bros Interactive Entertainment   USA     website      facebook   twitter
  Warner Media LLC   
   owns 100% of Warner Bros Interactive Entertainment  
USA     website         twitter

Mass media

Formerly Time Warner, the company has been a part of AT&T since 2018. Brands include HBO, Cinemax, CNN, DC Comics, Cartoon Network and Warner Bros.

      AT&T Inc   
       owns 100% of Warner Media LLC  
USA     website      facebook   twitter

Conglomerate

AT&T was co-founded by telephone inventor Alexander Graham Bell in 1885. Acquired mass media conglomerate WarnerMedia in 2018 for US$85.4 billion, making AT&T the world's largest media and entertainment company, as well as the world's largest telecommunications company.

> About the Ratings

Company Assessment

PRAISE CRITICISM INFORMATION
Warner Bros Interactive Entertainment
Social Exploiting contractors
In 2019 US Gamer interviewed former employees of NetherRealm Studios (owned by WB Games), who said the studio fosters a particularly stressful, and sometimes hostile environment, for contract employees. The studio has also been accused of paying minimum wage, stringing temp workers along with hopes of a full-time position, and brutal overtime.
Source: US Gamer (2020)
Warner Media LLC
Business Ethics 15.0% in Newsweek Green Ranking 2017
This company received a score of 15/100 in the Newsweek Green Ranking 2017, which ranks the world's largest publicly traded companies on eight indicators covering energy, greenhouse gases, water, waste, fines and penalties, linking executive pay to sustainability targets, board-level committee oversight of environmental issues and third-party audits. Ranking methodology by Corporate Knights and HIP Investor.
Source: Newsweek (2017)
Business Ethics Excessive CEO pay
As You Sow's 2018 report, 'The 100 Most Overpaid CEOs', reveals the 100 most overpaid CEOs from USA's 500 largest public companies (as determined by the S&P 500 list). This company's CEO, Jeffrey L. Bewkes came in at number 24 on the list, having been paid US$32,614,304 in 2017. According to the report, "Most CEOs have come to be grossly overpaid, and that overpayment is harmful to the companies, the shareholders, the customers, the other employees, the economy, and society as a whole."
Source: As You Sow (2018)
Business Ethics Corporate responsibility claims
This company has corporate responsibility claims on its website under the headings
purposeful storytelling, engaging with impact and creating responsibly and sustainably. They also have a diversity and inclusion policy.

Source: company website (2020)
Social Modern Slavery statement
California, the UK and Australia have all enacted legislation requiring companies operating within their borders to disclose their efforts to eradicate modern slavery from their operations and supply chains. Follow the link to see this company's disclosure statement.
Source: company website (2020)
Business Ethics OpenSecrets.org profile
OpenSecrets.org tracks the influence of money on U.S. politics, and how that money affects policy and citizens' lives. Follow link to see this company's record of political donations, lobbying, outside spending and more.
Source: Open Secrets (2020)
AT&T Inc
Environment CDP Climate Change Score of A-
In 2021, the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) asked companies to provide data about their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change risk. Responding companies are scored across four key areas: disclosure; awareness; management; and leadership. This company received a CDP Climate Change Score of A-.
Source: CDP (2021)
Business Ethics 76.6% at JUST Capital
JUST Capital polls Americans every year to identify the issues that matter most in defining just business behaviour. For their 2022 rankings the public identified 19 issues, which are organised under the headings Workers, Communities, Customers, Shareholders and Environment. JUST Capital then define metrics that map to those issues and track and analyse the largest, publicly traded U.S. companies. This analysis powers their rankings, in which this company ranked 18th of 954 companies, and 2nd of 10 Telecommunications companies.
Source: JUST Capital (2022)
Business Ethics 87.9/100 in Newsweek rankings
America's Most Responsible Companies 2022 by Newsweek and Statista recognises the Top 500 most responsible companies in the United States. Companies were evaluated in three areas: environmental (waste, energy use, etc.), social (leadership diversity, employees and philanthropy) and governance (transparency and economic performance). This company received a total score of 87.9/100, ranking 1st in the Software & Telecommunications sector, and 23rd overall.
Source: Newsweek (2021)
Social 100% on Corporate Equality Index
This company is listed as having best practice on a report card on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality in corporate America.
Source: Human Rights Campaign (2021)
Business Ethics 75/100 S&P Global ESG Score
This company received an S&P Global ESG Score of 75/100 in the Telecommunication Services category of the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment, an annual evaluation of companies' sustainability practices (last updated 7 Feb 2021). The rankings are based on an analysis of corporate economic, environmental and social performance, assessing issues such as corporate governance, risk management, environmental reporting, climate strategy, human rights and labour practices.
Source: S&P Global (2021)
Business Ethics Top spender on lobbying in USA
This company is on OpenSecrets.org's list of "Top Spenders on Lobbying", a list of the 20 organizations that have spent the most trying to influence US government policy. This company comes in at number 9 on the list, having spent $304,088,310 on lobbying between 1998 and 2021.
Source: Open Secrets (2021)
Environment Fined for environmental violations
In 2017 the California Attorney General and the Alameda County District Attorney announced a US$9.5 million settlement with AT&T subsidiary DirecTV to resolve allegations that its California facilities unlawfully disposed of large volumes of hazardous waste - including hazardous batteries, electronic devices, and aerosols - and committed additional violations stemming from the mismanagement of such items.
Source: State of California Department of Justice (2017)
Environment 6/18 in Net Zero scorecard
As You Sow's 2022 report, 'Road to Zero Emissions', assessed the progress of 55 of the largest U.S. corporations in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in line with the Paris Agreement's objective of limiting global average temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, which requires achieving "net zero" emissions by 2050. Companies are graded on: climate related disclosures; GHG reduction targets, and GHG reductions. This company received an Overall Net Zero grade of D.
Source: As You Sow (2022)
Social Fined for misleading consumers
In 2019 AT&T agreed to pay US$60 million to settle litigation with the Federal Trade Commission over allegations that the wireless provider misled millions of its smartphone customers by charging them for "unlimited" data plans while reducing their data speeds.
Source: USA Federal Trade Commission (2019)
Social Fined over 911 outages
In 2018 the US Federal Communications Commission settled an investigation into AT&T Mobility’s 911 outages of March and May 2017. As a condition of the settlement, the company must pay a $5.25 million fine, implement proactive system changes to reduce the likelihood and impact of future 911 outages, improve processes for notifying 911 call centers of any future outages, ensure reliable 911 call completion, and regularly file compliance reports with the FCC.
Source: USA Federal Communications Commission (2018)
Social $14m overcharging settlement
In 2022 this company agreed to pay US$14 million to resolve claims it added "administrative fees" to what were supposedly flat-rate wireless service plans. Customers claimed AT&T made hundreds of millions of dollars by adding the allegedly unjustified fees.
Source: Top Class Actions (2022)
Business Ethics CEO Pay Ratio of 325:1
In 2019 the median pay for a worker at this company was US$98,630. The CEO was paid 325 times this amount. Exorbitant CEO pay is a major contributor to rising inequality. CEOs are getting more because of their power to set pay, not because they are increasing productivity or possess specific, high-demand skills. The economy would suffer no harm if CEOs were paid less (or taxed more). In contrast, the CEO-to-typical-worker compensation ratio was 20-to-1 in 1965 and 58-to-1 in 1989.
Source: AFL-CIO (2020)
Business Ethics Political donations
This company is on OpenSecrets.org's list of "Top Donors", a list of the 100 biggest givers in US federal-level politics since 1990. Companies on this list lobby and spend big, with large sums sent to candidates, parties and leadership PACs. This company comes in at number 18 on the list, with contributions totalling $94,963,646 between 1990 and 2020.
Source: Open Secrets (2020)
Business Ethics Excessive CEO pay
As You Sow's 2022 report, 'The 100 Most Overpaid CEOs', reveals the 100 most overpaid CEOs from USA's 500 largest public companies (as determined by the S&P 500 list). This company's CEO, John Stankey came in at number 37 on the list, having been paid US$21,020,917 in 2021. According to the report, "Most CEOs have come to be grossly overpaid, and that overpayment is harmful to the companies, the shareholders, the customers, the other employees, the economy, and society as a whole."
Source: (2022)
Environment Climate action commitments
As listed on the We Mean Business website, this company has committed to the following climate action initiatives: adopt a science-based emissions reduction target.
Source: We Mean Business (2021)
Social Gender equality
This company appears on the 2021 Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index, signifying a commitment to supporting gender equality through policy development, representation, and transparency.
Source: Bloomberg (2021)
Business Ethics GeSI member
This company is a member of the Global e-Sustainability Initiative (GeSI), a leading source of impartial information, resources and best practices for achieving integrated social and environmental sustainability through Information and Communication Technology (ICT).
Source: GeSI (2019)
Business Ethics Responsible Minerals Initiative member
This company is a member of the Responsible Minerals Initiative (formerly the Conflict-Free Sourcing Initiative), which helps companies address conflict minerals issues in their supply chains. The RMI provides information on conflict-free smelters and refiners, common tools to gather sourcing information, and forums for exchanging best practices on addressing conflict minerals. Membership is open to companies that use or transact in tantalum, tin, tungsten or gold (3TG). Founded in 2008 by members of the Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition and the Global e-Sustainability Initiative.
Source: RMI (2019)
Environment Green Grades Report card
C+ grade on the 2011 Green Grades Report Card, which examines the paper practices of a dozen Fortune 500 companies
that consume vast amounts of paper, (A best, F worst).
Source: ForestEthics (2011)
Business Ethics OpenSecrets.org profile
OpenSecrets.org tracks the influence of money on U.S. politics, and how that money affects policy and citizens' lives. Follow link to see this company's record of political donations, lobbying, outside spending and more.
Source: Open Secrets (2020)

> About the Icons

Company Details

Type Wholly-owned subsidiary

Contact Details

Address Burbank, California, USA
Website wbgames.com

Products / Brands

WB Games
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Mortal Kombat Action Games


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