I have a screenplay that I'd love to share with you all to get honest feedback and opinions but would like to copyright my story before I do so. Does anyone know how to go about that? I'm new to Stage 32 and would like to meet others who share the same passion for films and writing as I do. Thank you for taking the time to read this! -Eric V.
Screenwriting : Copyrights on a screenplay by Eric Villarreal
Copyrights on a screenplay
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Save your money, just send it out for feedback.
It's cheaper to pay than to steal an idea.
Hi Eric. You already have protections under "copyright" as the original creator/writer of a fixed work, i.e. your screenplay (a common misconception). If you wish to file a claim of copyright, then do so by registering with the LOC. Filing a claim of copyright gives you stronger legal standing should you ever need one in a court of law. Thus registering has become rather common practice, no big deal. See the link Robert posted above. ;)
Dan M. You really should register your screenplays. I know it is cheaper to pay you than to steal your idea but you want to protect the producer if someone shows up with a similar project that they copyrighted before yours.
Eric: There is this miracle of the ages called the internet. If you use the Google search engine and put in "Office of Copyrights" or some such key word search, you're liable to find this log in link (see below) to register your work. For screenplays , you register them as a work of "performing arts". It is 35 dollars to register a script and has the strongest value when it comes to proving script ownership.
https://eco.copyright.gov/eService_enu/start.swe?SWECmd=Start&SWEHo=eco....