Feature Script

[salvador]

Thought I'd add this from Script Factory

I’m concerned that someone might poach my idea. How do I go about copyrighting my script?

Firstly, don’t be too paranoid. Real examples of major rip-offs are fairly few and far between. The zeitgeist is far more likely to be responsible for the fact that another script bears a resemblance to your own rather than industrial espionage. Most importantly, don’t allow the terror of someone stealing your idea to prevent you from sending your script out as (i) you’ll receive absolutely none of the feedback that your script requires and (ii) your film will never be made.

Many writers will sleep easier at night in the knowledge that their script is 100% safe and copyrighted. Sealing your script in an envelope and posting it to yourself is probably not the most effective method of script protection (surely you’ve seen one of those films where someone steams open a sealed envelope with the aid of a kettle?). You could, of course, send the sealed script to a friendly solicitor who may lock it up in their safe for a small charge. But the most efficient method is script registration with an acknowledged body. The Script Factory recommends the Raindance Script Registration Scheme where you can register your project for 2 years for £20 – see Registration

Do note that Script Registration services are not actual 'copyrighting' services. You automatically own the copyright to anything you have written and you can choose who gets to use it. Registration services are simply a convenient method of proving that you wrote your work and when you did it. In other words, we as a third party will keep safe a sealed copy of your screenplay - if you then had to assert your authorship, the sealed and registered version of your script is a good place to start.

[Dave]

Just wondering... but in the event of the theft of your script, wouldn't the message trail on this very forum back your case up a bit?

Hmmm.. probably not.

[wiggy]

i registered mine with the writers guild of america, it was 20 dollars (about a tenner)
thing is now though, after many re writes because of sending it out for people to read it now doesn't resemble the first one i registered!

[Tom]

I never register anything. Like Salvador says, you own the copyright on the script, but you can't copyright an idea. It's a famous paranoia, but scripts are cheap, lawsuits not so.

[Davros]

I think you should stick a copy in an envelope, and post it to yourself. The Royal Mail will date and time the envelope, you will then have a copy which certifies when you wrote the script, then obviously dont open it when it arrives. Job done.

I think I learnt that on Blue Peter. ;D

[Davros]

salvador said:

Sealing your script in an envelope and posting it to yourself is probably not the most effective method of script protection (surely you’ve seen one of those films where someone steams open a sealed envelope with the aid of a kettle?).

Ignore my post. They obviously watch Blue Peter too.

[RichK]

Yeah but if you post it to yourself you get that little kick of excitement at receiving some non-bill or non-junk mail, a thrill that will last about one second until you remember what the mystery mail is.

This one second of excitement can extend to two seconds of rapture if you a/. post it second class, and b/. are a stoner with a very short term memory. Trouble is in the second instance, you'll probably open the envelope to see what it is, and only then remember it's the script you posted to yourself three days before. This of course will break the seal on the envelope and you'll be back to square one and have to post it to yourself again. To paraphrase Sean Lock, you'll be trapped in a memory loss script copyright vortex.

[jimmy975]

Hey Salvador i don't mean your friends, if you trust them fine but there are a lot of computer hackers that use worms to get into screenwriter's computers. Some of them are advertised as ad's or threads for screenwriters that sets of a worm or some kind of virus to look at scripts. Also when you hand screenplays into some people in the industry the classic thing is that 'It's good but it's not solicited or 'it's not what we're looking for' and they pass it over to some other writer to doctor it. This does happen big time, my aunties best friend got her sitcom ripped off, she's still distraught about it. A free script saves some people thousands or millions of pounds/dollars worth of money.

[jimmy975]

By the way the posting to yourself thing doesn't work anymore it doesn't hold up in court anymore, the classic excuse is that 'someone wrote a similar idea'.

[Tom]

The copyright of an idea and the copyright of a whole script are two very different things. If a screenplay about gangster giraffes who kidnap the US president is seen by a film studio, but not bought, that doesn't mean the studio can't then shoot a movie about gangster giraffes who kidnap the president. Of course, if the plot, structure, characters and overall tone are exactly the same and can be proven, then the writer of the first film can sue them. But, gangster giraffes who kidnap the US president is not the total ownership of anyone, and the studio can openly admit they took the concept, just not the script. It's their call.

Of course, the unlikely idea of people thieving scripts left, right and centre is age-old in this industry. I don't know what happened to your auntie's best friend, but the producers will nearly ALWAYS buy a script and then work on the screenplay before stealing it and then making it. They're not in the business to be sued. Intellectual copyright is tough business, but we're all influenced by numerous ideas. If I wanted to shoot a Kill Bill spoof, following the plot with some minor changes, I could do it without the worry of being sued by anyone. But anyone stealing an screenplay wholesale is pretty rare.

If you register your screenplay, and someone stole it, they'd have to shoot word for word the screenplay that you wrote for you to have a case. If they based a film on your ideas, it doesn't matter who you paid or even how much - no-one can copyright an idea, just the words and order they put on the page.

Of course, I never worry about that stuff. Once the film is made, someone can still 'steal' the ideas. It's called being influenced, and that's how all films gestate.

[jimmy975]

It's not rare at all mate, honestly man. It happens all the time in hollywood and it happens here now and again, and as far as ideas go, that's a patent isn't it?

There is something in the law about spoofs being allowed to mimic other matierial, otherwise we wouldn't be able to have satire and parody.

Homages are ok too as long as someone can watch your film and see that it is mostly your influence that has been put into it.

This isn't paranoia talking here.

The producers aside though, there are some 'screenwriters' especially in hollywood that sit all day in a cafe talking about films and they ask people questions about films, they end up stealing your ideas, as soon as you give them some information they are straight onto they're laptop. They're out there.

[jimmy975]

What i mean by the patent is that there is another legal way to prove that ideas are yours, it is something different from copyright.

[salvador]

Jimmy no offense but I think it is paranoia and I think it's an inherent attribute of wannabe filmmakers in Scotland. Everyone here is scared about having their ideas stolen or scared of not getting absolute credit for their films that there is no collaboration and thus no 'community' of filmmakers.

That aside, I do not believe at all that there are creative people out there that are not making it because their ideas have been nicked. Thats just not true, maybe concepts, ideas that are similar etc are being developed and then changed and bitter people are moaning about not getting a pay check or whatever but there is no undercurrent of creative theft.

Like I said, someone who has this fear of their ideas being stolen is going to:

1. Spend a lot of money on copyright and court cases.
2. Be so secretive that no one ever sees their ideas.
3. End up in an early grave through worry.

I wont be copyrighting my script..... if any one wants to steal the ideas, you're welcome to them.

Tom I stole an idea from your Icharus film.... see you in court

[RichK]

I have about a gazillion ideas of my own before I need to steal anyone else's. The biggest one is about some dinosaur DNA that is trapped in amber. Some mad old fool starts to play with it and ends up creating some modern dinosaurs.

Ok, I digress, but even when I saw "Familia Rodante" I wasn't fussed.. just enthused more than anything. Ooh, deeply cryptic reference to something there..

[Tom]

salvador said:

Tom I stole an idea from your Icharus film.... see you in court

WHAT! Which bit? The part I stole from the Spike Lee Movie, 25th Hour? Ha ha...

Rich, I'm stumped. Tell us more about the cryptic reference there...