In my attempt to make my series sound as authentic as possible, I wrote and sought some advice from the head of a certain department at Cambridge University, about the butler school they have there. Like, how many years does a person training to be a bulter need to attend there before they graduate?
Do they get a degree, a diploma, or just a certificate of completion? i told her the name of the family that was moving to America from England. The name of the butler, and other little details, but not the whole premise of the show. But i did give a way a few things, just to let her see what the show was about basically, and why i was writing it, and where i was headed with it.
What are the chances of her trying to take my show idea, make it her own, and perhaps sell it to TV network executives there in the UK, and claim it as her own?
And I know I probably sound paranoid, but i have not heard back from her yet about the questions i asked of her. What do you all think, is it a possibility that she could take my main idea and develop it on her own, then sell it to a British channel there, or perhaps a British executive, if she knows one
Or do you think I am just worrying needlessly?
And if she is doing that, how long would it take network executives there to find a writer and flesh out my idea, and write episodes for it?
Thanks a lot.
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It sounds like you just asked questions and gave her a few little details, Dwayne Pagnotto, so I don't think you need to worry. Plus, she's the head of a department at Cambridge University, so I doubt she'll want to risk her reputation over a show idea.
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Whew! Okay, thanks a lot my friend. What yer telling me makes good sense. I mean even if she did, i do have it copyrighted. But i do not know if a US copyright would protect my material from being stolen by someone in the UK or not....lol.
Probably just overthinking things too much i guess. Thanks as always my friend. Yer wisdom and advice are always spot-on..
Take care.
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You're welcome, Dwayne Pagnotto. "But i do not know if a US copyright would protect my material from being stolen by someone in the UK or not." I'm not sure. I suggest checking with the U.S. Copyright Office:
U.S. Copyright Office
101 Independence Ave. S.E.
Washington, D.C.
20559-6000
(202) 707-3000 or
1 (877) 476-0778 (toll-free)
www.copyright.gov
Maybe also check with the Copyright Office in your country. Is this it: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/intellectual-property-office
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Fantastic.I will look into that.i mean hopefully there will be no need.But, just to be on the safe side and all. Thanks again my friend.Yer one in a million.
Take care.
You're welcome. Take care.
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https://www.britishbutlerinstitute.com/butler-school/
They have some courses in NYC. I bet you could locate additional information and resources, if need be.
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Thanks a lot Elly. Much appreciated. I will look into that. Have a blessed day!
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Maurice Vaughan This might be a question I already asked and I apologize, but some new people might like the answer. If the creator is not from the United States -- and from the UK, Canada, Brazil... do they still need to register with the U.S. Copyright Office?
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No problem, Debbie Elicksen. A person can register their script with the Copyright Office in their country or the U.S. Copyright Office. I'm not sure if they need to register with both Copyright Offices though.
On the U.S. Copyright Office's website (https://www.copyright.gov/help/faq/faq-who.html), it says:
Can foreigners register their works in the United States?
Any work that is protected by U.S. copyright law can be registered. This includes many works of foreign origin. All works that are unpublished, regardless of the nationality of the author, are protected in the United States. Works that are first published in the United States or in a country with which we have a copyright treaty or that are created by a citizen or domiciliary of a country with which we have a copyright treaty are also protected and may therefore be registered with the U.S. Copyright Office. See Circular 38a, International Copyright Relations of the United States, for the status of specific countries, and Circular 38b, Copyright Restoration Under the URAA
But I suggest checking with the U.S. Copyright Office to be sure.
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There are 160 countries that are signatories to the Berne Convention which recognizes copyright in those countries. (I believe only Iran and North Korea are not signatories.) Registering in the US covers works otherwise worldwide.
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RB has a great Instagram post about this question: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CYsE1VVhzXW/
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Thanks everyone, for all the extra information. Much appreciated.