Screenwriting : How to copy write your script by Craig Lofton

Over here in the UK and most of Europe, copyright exists as soon as an author's work is made (completed).

Craig, you already own the copyright to your work because you wrote it and that can't be taken away from you. What you're talking about is registering your copyright with the US Copyright Office (LoC) https://www.copyright.gov/

Navigate through the Register link, there's plenty of help on the pages.

Thanks Guys

That link should work!

Assuming you're in the US, you can register your copyright with the U.S. Copyright office. As additional backup, you can also register your script with the Writer's Guild West (you do not need to be a member, they simply charge a little more if you're not). WGA registration also provides an extra dash of professionalism to your script, as sometimes when you submit to contests, production companies, agents, etc. they will ask for a WGA number for your script. Hope this helps and good luck!

Dan, I don't know that it does add a 'dash of professionalism' - but it's possible it might make someone think you're already a WGA member. A professional wouldn't assume that though - so it's an odd assumption.

Registering with the WGA is virtually instantaneous - you get the number as soon as your credit card payment goes through - so it's handy if someone (An agent, a contest,) requires it before accepting it. Copyright registration takes months to return.

A WGA registration expires after five years - a copyright is good for life (plus seventy at the moment)

As everyone here has noted you 'own' your copyright as soon as the work is created in a 'fixed' medium. However - registering the copyright will afford benefits (damages) not available should you find yourself in litigation. So it's worth the effort in the long run.

And yes - you have to sign it over if/when you sell the script.

Hi Dan/Richard - The "dash of professionalism" is more of a personal expression/my opinion. It's based on a lot of my reading of screenwriting books and pitching articles. Nearly all of them mention registering your script with WGA mainly for protective reasons. It also led me to conclude that this is something - not a make or break thing or anything that will help you stand out, but also something that screenwriters who are serious about becoming professionals do.That is, to present the best version of yourself the first time, because you only get one shot to do that, and you don't want to let what is really a minor detail and easily resolved become an unnecessary hurdle. Hope that clears it up! And Richard, thanks for your additional info and insights. All good things to know!

Richard P. Alvarez , Registration with the US Copyright Office is instantaneous as well. Just like WGA registration, they both take months for the physical certificate to arrive in the mail but both of those options also display a registration number the moment you complete your online registration.

https://www.copyright.gov/registration/docs/processing-times-faqs.pdf

The Copyright Office’s processing times vary based on a number of factors, including how difficult a claim is to review, whether an applicant

submitted a physical deposit, whether the Copyright Office needs to correspond with an applicant, and the number of registration

specialists available to review claims. For example, claims take longer to process when applicants submit online claims but do not submit

physical deposits when necessary, or when applicants do not fully respond to an examiner’s questions. The Office encourages applicants

to refer to the Compendium of U.S. Copyright Office Practices and the Copyright Office’s circulars prior to submitting applications to avoid

unnecessary delays and correspondence.

Overall processing times usually are longer for claims submitted entirely by mail, so the Copyright Office encourages applying online.

The Office understands processing times are important and is working to improve them.

For questions, please contact the Public Information Office by phone at (202) 707-3000 or 1-877-476-0778 (toll-free), or online at

www.copyright.gov/help. While the Public Information Office can provide information on pending claims, it can take the Copyright Office

as long as the outer ranges set forth below to issue decisions on whether to register claims.

The average processing time for all claims is 3.2 months; for all claims 26 percent required correspondence and 74 percent did not

require correspondence. Refer to the charts below for details on eService, Deposit Ticket, and Mail claims, with breakouts for claims with and

without correspondence. Please note that the Office is not currently mailing certificates of registration due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but

you can check our public catalog to see if your application has been approved. Click here for more information on COVID-19-related updates.

I guess it's changed. In the past it always displayed a registration number when you completed submission.

This is an issue that appears every now and again, so let's set it straight, shall we. The simple fact is that the moment you set your writing to paper/computer: It's yours, copyrighted and protected. Period. You can register it with the WGA and Copyright Office if you'd like and I suppose that may add a protective legal layer - but is it worth the $ to do so? Frankly, I think not. Let me give you a real example: I submitted "Gorgeous George" - a recommended script dealing with the rise of a black boxer into tv status in the early days. It was immediately optioned (high 5 figure) for a year - it was never produced. Several months later, 'Million Dollar Baby' hit the screen - almost a carbon copy of my story. Would I have a case? No - remember, I got paid for my work.

As a Producer, If I find, like and abscond with your script and take it on to production and you find out about it - you're gonna get pissed and sue me. Wouldn't it make more sense and be cheaper for me to simply buy your script outright?

As new unsung writers, get over your fear. You're writing scripts that you want Producers to read - aren't you?