Screenwriting : How safe is your copyright at screenplay competitions? by Mwadimeh Wa'kesho

The best thing you can do is register with the WGA...If someone is going to take your idea in Hollywood, they will do it and if you go after them they can blackball you, it is a tough proposition. You never really have "full" protection. There are cases of writers suing that crop up all the time. The problem is, you may or may not win your court case, and regardless of the outcome Hollywood will know that you sued somebody and nobody will work with you. It is a little bit of a catch 22. But you can always write something else and if you are good somebody will nurture that, it is just not that easy. The WGA is the best way to prove your work existed and you can protect log lines, synopses, treatments and screenplays. Whenever I have an idea I create a synopsis and register it so I cover myself as best as possible.

It's rare. First, to steal your idea they would have to hire someone to write it - someone, if you're entering screenplays in competitions, who will cost much more than just buying the screenplay from you. Then they would have to be prepared to fend off a lawsuit - which could be a ton of money even if they manage to win. Believe me, it's much more cost effective to just pay you for the rights than to try and steal it.

Thanks, Jay. I guess, though, that WGA acts for US citizens only, I am not sure. I live in Kenya and have registered my script with the copyright board but I am not sure if that is adequate to protect my work from pirates. Thanks, Mark. I am glad you say it's rare for someone to steal your idea at a contest, but again it could happen... and who knows, I could just be one of those geniuses who are blessed with but one flash of creativity before they go to their graves, ouch! :) I am seriously thinking of entering one contest that they say could rope me in a cool $80,000. Now that would make me the richest writer around these parts of the planet...

There is no reason you can not or should not apply for a WGA Registration. Also, why not send it to the USA Copyright Office. Neither of those are for US Citizen's only.

The real issue is you can not copyright and idea only its execution. One always stands the chance of having someone read your script then right a new one based on your story. It is a difficult road to travel and one must be careful. Only deal with reputable competitions.

Not exactly true. Quite a few things can be copyrighted. Try writing a new original story about Superman and see what happens.

Mwadimeh, it's the world we live in. If someone steals your idea, well, that tells you that you're an idea genius, and you'll come up with more ideas that are even better. But it's always a good idea to copyright and, if possible, register your scripts with WGA - either East or West. But don't let fear stop you from moving ahead with your work.

Beautifully said Judith. Fear of thievery or being blackballed are usually symptomatic of new writers - I know because I suffered from the same thing. Don't live in fear. Be bold. Get your ideas out there. The idea behind the contests is to get your work in front of industry professionals who, if impressed, are in a position to buy your script. And as I said before, these industry professionals know it's much cheaper to buy a script from a new writer, than to steal it. And if someone does steal from you (and I'm betting it never happens) be bold again and take them to court. So what if they blackball you? What does that mean? You have to write under a pen name? Believe me, if you're the type with fresh ideas and the writing skills to bring them home, Hollywood will beat a path to your door, even if your door is in Kenya.

You should use both WGA and copy right. The way I see it is that it will be a lot of trouble for somebody to take your idea like a logline and synopsis or even a script and create a new story based on that and there's no guarantee it will be successful. I followed the case involving Sylvester Stallone stealing his idea for the 'Expendables' from another writer's story called the 'The Cordoba Caper' and there were definitely similarities, so if it's true Stallone change it enough to make it his own story. In Stallone's case, he had the advantage of his status.

Write the story, register the story, and deal with a thief if it happens. I can not tell you how many times I have seen my ideas on the big screen, because someone else thought it would be a good idea also. I don't mean they stole it, they just had a similar idea and implemented it. If you worry about every bad thing that could happen it will be hard to get anything done. Sure it would be unwise to pen a story called "Superman", but if you wrote a story about an alien child orphaned on Earth who develops incredible abilities, you might have a defensible case to say it's your story. Just don't give him or her a big red cape, xray vision, and the alien name Kal El.