Screenwriting : Copyright or not (UK) by Phil McNamara

Phil McNamara

Copyright or not (UK)

Hi, Sorry if this has been discussed already but I have been reading conflicting reports about copyrighting a pilot script (TV) in UK. I have finished mine, had a number of people read and feedback and I'm now ready to try and get the right people to read it (which is a task in itself). However I'm reading that I should definitely copyright it on one website and that the author of a script holds automatic copyright in the UK on another. Any definitive on this please? Thank you.

Phil McNamara

Thanks Steve. I don't think it's too expensive here too. I am swaying to copyrighting it. Thanks very much

Craig D Griffiths

Copyright is automatically granted to the creator of the original content. But there is no way of copyrighting an idea, just your version of it.

Paul Samuel McCracken

I'm from the UK. Register it with the WGA (east or west doesn't matter). As well as the US. Copyright office. From what I remember, combined cost is like $60 which is like £40. Some people say that registering with both is overkill but that's what I do so that all avenues are covered. Doesn't take long either, the copyright office can take a while to fill out the form but you can do everything online. On a last note, make sure you have the right means to pay. Make sure you have a credit card as overseas dont accept some of our debit cards. Good luck

Pierre Langenegger

Which market are you aiming for? If it's strictly UK then you don't need to copyright it as it's automatically covered and there is no official registration process over there (just like Australia) but if you're aiming for or considering the US market then you should copyright with LOC.

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