ASK & DISCUSS INDEX

4 years, 5 months ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin

Copyright of the execution of the idea (which is what a screenplay is) is automatic, but it may be helpful to register it with a registration service. WGA offers this, others may also. They simply date stamp a copy and keep it in a filing cabinet. If someone does steal your script and make it then you can prove it was your script before they made it to a court, and without a contract between you they have little argument.

That said, people don't steal scripts often - the cost of producing a script far outweighs the cost of doing a deal on the script, and the cost of the injunction and court case prevents them from benefitting from the film, so it's very rare they're stolen.

4 years, 5 months ago - Buppha Wittaya-Amponpunt

I don't mean they will steal the whole script exactly as it is. What I mean is that some are likely to copy some of the idea and make it theirs, which happens all the time, and you can't really do something about it. So, I may just produce the movie myself since I want to be a director as well.

4 years, 5 months ago - Bob Eckhard

Hi Buppha

If you have saved your idea on your computer and it shows time and date of the word file or whatever you've saved it as, you have secured copyright for the UK as a file with recorded date and time shows ownership of it- However - as Paddy says - if youthink it might be stolen by Hollywood etc you can make it doubly safe by registering it with WGA (Writer's Guild of America) but neither of these will ever completely safeguard you. One reason is that often when similar work has come about its because it was pitched to someone who didn't like the screenplay but liked some part of what was said and has (without realising) logged that in their mind then- without realising - shared it with someone who adds it into their feature idea. Truth is, we have to get our projects out there and that means putting scripts into peoples hands - be that for Tv, screen or stage play. If I have one problem with your first post it is the idea that its based on a true story as that can be problematic for you if the person is alive or not dead 90 years or more as there is the issue of buying the rights/ permission to tell that story/biography. It's a whole other ball game and you need to make sure that if the person is alive or others (who represent the dead persons interest) that they are fully on board with what you're writing - also others if they have tackled the person/subject and use ideas that may come up in your script. If you don't want to send it in to comps then pay a script advisor/service to read and feedback. All the best

4 years, 5 months ago - Vasco de Sousa

Hi Buppha,
People will copy an idea. Even subconsciously. Read about lawsuits, it does happen. Most famous names either sue or get sued in their career.
But, if you make it easier to buy your script than copy it, then people might prefer to buy it.
If you register with the library of Congress, then you'll have your US court costs covered. WGA is pretty worthless for copyright theft, but it's worthwhile for credit placement. (It's used in credit arbitration cases, I haven't heard of it being used in a copyright infringement case. And it only lasts a few years, it needs constant renewal.)
I always register with the library of congress because it's permanent. It won't help in UK cases, for that my mentors always told me to keep every draft, to prove your work.