Screenwriting : Myows by Linda Bradshaw-Rogers

As the original creator you already have immediate protections under "copyright" the very second you create a fixed work, i.e., a screenplay. You can register your claim of copyright with the LOC yourself. It's easy. You can register online. No big deal. It's common practice. A simple, single registration costs $35. You do not need some "service" to do so. If your needs are more complicated or you are selling a written work, then perhaps seek guidance from a copyright lawyer. Best to you! ;)

Thanks Gilberto and Beth. However, I'm well aware of registry through LOC. While assisting another proofread, I've learned about MYOWS that's brand new to me. It always pay to ask when I don't know.

Okay, I just took a minute to look over Myows... You load files onto their site to create "third-party evidence," I guess? That's not registering with the LOC. They don't offer legal standing. They have legal "templates" for you to use and will send dates/data to third parties should you request it. Personally speaking, I see no point to this. My two cents: This just perpetuates paranoia.

Probably wouldn't be admissible evidence in a copyright lawsuit.

Waste of your money.

I think it's probably best to stick with LOC. And, while we're on this topic, is a WGA registration even worth anything?

It's best to stick with LOC.

To answer your question directly: there is no past practice to show registering with them is credible in a lawsuit. Since it's free there is likely no downside as long as a writer doesn't use it to replace registering the copyright officially.

Hey y'all, thank you for confirming my suspicions. I'll inform a fellow writer accordingly. STG32 folks are the best. Thanks again!

Just to clarify: You do not "register" with Myows. There is no legal standing here. It's just some website. You upload your work to create 'third party evidence,' which seems rather obvious, but it also misguides... because... If you simply register your claim of copyright with the LOC you achieve both: third party evidence and official legal standing should you ever need one in a court of law. Boom. So why do you need Myows? The name is annoying too, just saying. Lol! Just a side note... you can create 'third party evidence' by uploading your script pdf on Stage 32. Ironically, the more you put your work out there, make it public, the more evidence you create that the work is yours, dates, data, etc—through email, websites, or whatever. Keep records yourself. So again, I see no point to Myows. Yes, it's free up to 100 uploads, however this site is geared more towards photographers and graphics. More than 100 uploads and/or additional other "services" then there is a monthly charge. But I didn't care to investigate any further. Paranoia begets paranoia. But hey, to each their own. Look over their Q&A section if interested. Nonetheless, everything they offer you can do yourself. You can watermark photos, pages, etc. You can create your own website of your work, etc... Shrug. Again, why?

If you only register with the WGA, you probably wouldn’t be award your legal fees or Compensatory Damages if you won. My Agent wants me to register both and I never asked her why, but I am assuming she wants to take advantage of the WGA legal team in case of arbitration. That is the only value I see in registering a screenplay with the WGA but if my agent didn't ask me to do it I wouldn't waste my money. I have written over 30 screenplays and I didn't think 70 percent where even worth protecting so I didn't register them.

Again, you do not "get a copyright." You register a claim of copyright; you already have protections under "copyright" as the original creator of a fixed work. It's a common misconception. ;)

Thanks, Dan.

Gilberto. Copyright only protects the author’s written words, their expression, how they tell their story. So, registering a synopsis isn’t going to offer any protection. Registering a treatment would offer a little more but very little. Normally treatments are used to pitch projects like a television series when there is no script available but that is the only time it would be necessary to register a treatment. The only time I wrote treatments was when I was writing on assignment. Since I hated writing them they were pretty darn short.

Myows is an acronym for "My Original Works." Again, this site is more about images and is geared towards photographers and designers, etc. Not so much writers.