When I finish my screenplay.. is there any legal protection I should be considering or is my work safe from someone stealing my idea? I was told a few years back to set myself up with a DBA and some other sources that would protect anything I write. Is this necessary, or is it something I need not worry about?
Screenwriting : Do I need to worry about copyrighting my work? by Wallace Carranza
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There are different things you can do. You can copyright it with the gov., you can register it with the WGA, or you can do the poor man's copyright, basically mail yourself a copy with the postmark/date on the envelope and tuck it away for safe keeping (don't open it when it arrives!) I usually do WGA for my scripts and for my show I did the full copyright of the produced material. The usefulness of any of these things is up for debate. That said, IMO it's really not something to be super concerned about. HTH!
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Generally speaking, the very act of writing it down means it's copyrighted. You can pay people like the WGA money but they don't, I've heard, offer you protection for someone stealing your script idea. Remember, the idea isn't copyright-able. Only the script is. You'd have to prove significant similarities between your original script and a copy of it to prove breach of copyright. From everything I've heard, it's an unfounded worry as theft of scripts is not as widespread as people fear - in fact, it seems, it's quite rare.
ahh, ok.. cool. cuz I see all these windows of opportunity and everyone jumping at them.. I guess I'm just very protective of my ideas
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Second to what David said, you can't copyright an idea. There was a thread about this and someone said the "poor man's copyright" or WGA won't hold up in court. Maybe the best protection (for US) might be the Copywright office. http://www.copyright.gov/
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Wallace, I second Leona's suggestion: Copyright with the U.S. Copyright Office, don't be sidetracked by the WGA! The price difference is minimal. Here's a lawyerly article about it: "Open Letter to the WGA Board Members" >> https://zernerlaw.wordpress.com/2014/02/25/open-letter-to-the-wga-board-...
Interesting article, Marc.
I would like to add that the WGA offers to register even your logline and treatment (which saves both a little) - and yes, they don't check if someone steals your idea, but I think with the registration you then have the chance to win a trial.
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I wouldn't trust the WGA....there's no protection there at all. It's a waste of money. Besides, I was at the WGA in LA when one of their writers claimed she was paid for 25 years to steal others works and rewrite them. One hundred and sixty-five other indie writers sat there in shock as this woman admitted this during a panel discussion. The only way to copyright your work is to go through the Library of Congress. It cost $35. You send it electronically to them via their website...about three months later you receive the document in the mail. The copyright begins the day you electronically submit it to them.
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using copyright.gov has been my go to for now. No one has told me otherwise.
Thanks everybody... Steven, very informative as well as everybody else. Yea I never believed in the poor mans copyright method
Steven Sears...Originally you wrote "Arrogant you are ....and to separate yourself from the noise". Since I'm one that commented....Wow! Thanks. You have a way with words.
Yes copyright everything! US copyright office. I also register with the writers guild on some things as well as US Copyright
Steven ...Thanks for clarifying.
Steven - thank you, really helpful for people outside the U.S.! :)
Thanks!
Very helpful suggestions... much appreciated...
Thank you all, this was very helpful.
The only reason that I've run across for registering with the WGA was that NBCU wanted scripts submitted for their Emerging Writers program to be registered with the WGA in addition to being copyrighted. I do agree with the previous poster that registering with the WGA will give a court two points of reference as to the ownership of a work. Ideas are not copyrightable, and neither are historical facts. Ideas must be placed in a tangible form (written down or otherwise recorded) before they can be copyrighted. Scripts and other literary works are judged on the body of the work. In other words, you can change around a few words here and there after your script has been copyrighted and it won't affect the copyright. Don't show your script(s) to anybody until you have applied for the copyright. This protects your "chain of custody." When it comes right down to it, there are only three types of stories-man versus man, man versus himself, and man versus nature. After that, it's all interpretation. Use the copyright protection-that's what it's there for- and then don't worry about it.
Nightmare: So someone may like my concept, change the circumstances; use it with different characters and plots and they do well while I struggle. Its bs. Copyright don't cover that (though you still need it). I read that can happen and there is nothing you can do. All you can do is protect yourself the best you can.
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This is a very long thread, but if you have time, check out: https://www.stage32.com/lounge/pre_production/How-do-I-protect-my-screen...
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For what it's worth, I'm teaching a S32 Next Level Class right now. So far, a little less than 15 class participants have turned in their 1st "homework assignments," which includes a logline. Out of approx ONLY 12-13 people, 2 have the same "problem" in their logline, which is solving THE EXACT SAME environmental crisis on Earth and BOTH are going into SPACE to solve it. I must be vague to protect their privacy. So 20% of my class have a similar story. Having the same story idea happens all the time! Grounds to think someone stole your idea? Typically not.