Copyright or the WGA?

[Mike Scherer]

We are a community of writers and I have no doubt that members of this community will respect the work/ideas/concepts submitted by other members, however, some folks are nervous about putting their scripts/ideas/concepts out into the public. I understand this sense of unease, so I offer up this advice:

To alleviate any concerns that someone will/might/could steal your script/idea/concept, please register your completed screenplay in one of two ways:

1. Via e-Copyright (US Copyright Office) at a cost of $35 and you are granted copyright protection for a term ending 70 years after the death of the author. The e-Copyright link: www.copyright.gov/

2. Via the WGA (Writer’s Guild of America): at a cost of $20 your work is registered for five (5) years after which, you must renew for another five (5) years and another $20. The Writer’s Guild of America (West) link: www.wgawregistry.org/webrss/

Let the critiques begin!

[plucharc]

I just wanted to add that I follow a number of blogs, one of which belongs to a lawyer.

I mention this because he's a firm believer (and not the first person I've heard this from) that you should never register with the WGA. He says it's a waste of money as it doesn't protect you like the U.S. Copyright status will.

Here's the post: zernerlaw.wordpress.com/2010/12/03/it%E2%80%99s-time-for-the-writer%E2%80%99s-guild-to-shut-down-the-wga-registry/

Just some food for thought (and probably debate).

[nedbrewitt]

thanks plucharc, a very good article that.

[Sean Z P Harris]

Wow! That was an eye opener. I wonder, being in England 'n' all, if the situation is similar over here. May look it up later.

[nedbrewitt]

Hi Sean, I'm up in Manchester, I was thinking the same as you. I mean if we're sending stuff out it's got to go to the US (I'm getting sick of radio 4 and the BBC monopoly). There doesn't seem to be a UK copyright service?

[singsalsing]

I register my scripts with Script Vault in the UK.
Am I wasting my money?

[zzf]

US COPYRIGHT OFFICE is the legally binding way here in the U.S. (don't know the protocols for abroad, but I would imagine if you're submitting your work in the States, then the same rules apply regardless of your citizenship) -- at least that is what I have been told by my lawyer friends.

[ihop]

I've been advised by a number of different people (here in the UK) that registering scripts is a total waste of time. If somebody wants to steal a complete script and pass it as their own then your own dated and original copy will be proof enough. But no one's stupid enough to do that anyway....
If on the other hand they just want to nick ideas from you they can do it quite easily, change a few things round, mix it with their own ideas and they have a new script. No amount of complaining that it was your original idea will convince a lawyer that you own the copyright. If that was the case there would only ever have been one chase movie, one slasher movie etc etc.
So you either have to choose to post or not to post. My feeling is, don't be so precious about stuff. I don't like the idea of someone stealing my stuff but it's better to have it out there in the first place, hopefully receiving positive feedback, than lying in a drawer somewhere gathering dust...

[oz]

Actually, ihop, there's a science to proving such a case. I know someone who testifies on these cases. Both scripts are analyzed by industry professionals who recognize your pillars and even timelines as to when the defendant could have had access to your script are examined. Changing a few things around won't keep them safe and as long as you register your script, you've got a good chance at reparations.

BUT....

You also have to know the difference between similar ideas getting written at the same time===happens all the time----and an outright theft. Chances are slim, if you've registered your script with the copyright office, that a quality, completed script is going to get snatched. You've already established people who read before the other person submitted. You've already secured your copyright. But just because my script that revolved around the Butterfly Effect was circulating around the time that the script called Butterfly Effect was purchased and shot, doesn't mean that my script was stolen or I have any legal claim against it. It wasn't and I don't. There was nothing similar about the scripts except the Butterfly Effect.

And seriously, if you're not comfortable posting, don't. You should spend your time honing your craft and writing, writing, writing. And learning how to submit and tracking where you submit, who responded, building contacts. Not worrying. Worry kills creativity.