ACTORS’ union Equity lost a High Court challenge today over subscription fees paid by performers to the directory service Spotlight.

Equity, which represents those in the performance arts, said Spotlight’s rates had “rocketed” since 2021 after it was acquired by Talent Systems.

Eight of Equity’s members, who are also Spotlight subscribers, also took legal action.

They asked a court to declare that Spotlight is an employment agency and that it must ensure its prices are “a reasonable estimate of the cost of production and circulation” of performers’ information.

Spotlight opposed the challenge, with its barristers claiming the legal action was “flawed” and that costs had increased because of a larger number of subscribers.

In a ruling on Wednesday, Judge Catherine Howells dismissed the claim.

She said: “I would have very real difficulty on the evidence in concluding that the fees charged by the defendant were more than a reasonable estimate of costs.”

In a 19-page ruling, the judge also found that Spotlight “is not and never has been” an employment agency.

Equity warned the ruling poses worrying implications for all workers left unprotected from up-front charges by similar platforms elsewhere in the growing gig economy.