Screenwriting : Copyright © by Simon © Simon

Simon, I copyrighted a play recently -- and the Copyright Office had then posted a notice about FEES increasing. Heads up!

I registered a feature script last year with WGAW... $20 online, uploaded the PDF. Done in 5 minutes.

I register with LOC but I don't bother with WGA as I see no benefit to it.

Thanks you all, I bet the price went up two days ago. Story of my life. It is about a guy who every time wants to get something the price goes up, or if I buy stocks or gold the price goes down...

Dan in a Nutshell; "The only real advantage of the WGA registration is that, in the event of a lawsuit or a credit arbitration, the WGA will have an employee appear and testify concerning the date of the registration. But this is rarely an issue during litigation." Thanks for sharing that.

Ok so headed over to the Eco to knock this out, I have a clarity question in ref to #1 & #2 of linked screen grab. It asks for a description, I am thinking PDF Script. Number 2 seems more like something you would have after production of scenes, a frame grab every 10 minutes or the whole audio track... Did I read too far into it? See red underline and let me know how you handled this with only script in hand please? Click link click pic to enlarge it there... http://www.pasteall.org/pic/81946

I think you read too far into it. Your work is not a motion picture so you don't need to worry about that. I looked at their tutorial and although it is out of date, it's still a pretty good example to follow. I think from memory, it's just an unpublished work and as you work through the registration you'll find you're registering a work of the performing arts which includes screenplays.

Thanks Pierre, I will check it again. I did not see a video tut. I assume you looked at the link? Why the confusion... Lisa thanks but I do not see the value of WGA west for my application. Screenplay is done. No pitching going to shoot. Wanted clean chain of title in the event that someone wants it to sell it. I only need a ©.

No, it's not a video, Simon, it's just a pdf tutorial. I just tried to sign-in for the link but the site's offline right now.

The only use for WGA registration is for TV specs based on existing shows. Outside of that, the only registration you ever need is LOC. Dan, if your agent wants both registrations, then let him/her pay the WGA fees. Simon, just register -- you are overthinking it. Form PA covers a wide range of media, including songs, films, and screenplays. You'll just need a digital copy (probably a PDF) of your screenplay to submit with the application.

Yeah I was over-thinking it. It is an "Unpublished piece of work" So a PDF upload and good ol' money to have it © Thanks for the input. />

writers guild is always the best and most powerful way to protect your work. Do it!

Do both, eventually if somebody with any weight wants it they will ask if it's WGA registered. I'm a pro union guy though. From my limited experience it is already an assumption you've copyrighted the work.

WGA lasts five years, copyright lasts your lifetime plus 70 years. I have stacks of scripts more than five years old that still get reads and sometimes sell.

I think William just resolved all of the WGA questions regardless of whether they're WGAe or WGAw

I have heard of situations where lawyers have refused to take a case because a writer didn't have LOC registration.

With apologies to Simon for continuing the thread hijack: Here's some reading from an entertainment and copyright attorney on the subject that illustrates Pierre's point: http://zernerlaw.wordpress.com/2010/12/03/it%E2%80%99s-time-for-the-writ... If you're worried about your material being stolen, then you'll need a lawyer when your masterpiece is filched. (Self representation just isn't going to cut it.) If you're independently wealthy, or personally connected to a copyright/entertainment lawyer, the WGA registry will do. For the rest, you'll need the (financial) protection that only the LOC gives you.

What about Letter's of Intent..? is that included ?

what is the LOC?

Oh, nevermind..I got it! Yes.. of course.

I find that WGA Registry works great... and it's $20. https://www.wgawregistry.org/

Travis. The WGA Registration is okay except if you end up in a lawsuit and win you might not be awarded legal fees and compensatory damages which you would get if you registered with the LOC.

Katya. There is no such thing as an “international copyright” that will automatically protect an author’s writings throughout the world.

I use WGA.

Jenna. Then you better hope you don't have to go to court someday.

"There is no such thing as an “international copyright” that will automatically protect an author’s writings throughout the world." In the UK, the simple act of writing it gives you automatic copyright. And that copyright can be exercised throughout the world.

Same in the US. Government thing here is a registration. And used by the courts here.

Also it's now $50 just FYI. I highly recommend writing a completed script, polishing it, and then getting copyright on it. It takes anywhere from 4 to 8 months for it to come through. I submitted a script for copyright in February and received the certificate in June.

If you are writing an original TV Spec (not an episode of an existing IP) and you create a series bible, include that in the copyright submission (as the same document. Script + Series Bible).