I have this issue that worries me. If someone posts or sends, via email, his material/story idea, synopsis or script here and that someone copies your idea and produces it after altering a few ideas, there by making your idea or work 2nd hand, is that safe? Most times I just feel it's harsh to start talking about the pay etc, when a client or indecent producer can't evaluate your sample work. But then, is it safe to act with solo much trust and betrayed? Not saying anyone tool someone else's idea and modified it to produce it into movie I need helpful answers please. Please let me know your thoughts on this.
Screenwriting : Trusting an independent producer with your work by Conrad Ekeke
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register it with the WGA it costs $20 and will make you sleep earlier.
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I think such paranoia can be crippling, write your script, register it and then get it out there!
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I agree with both Anthony and Geoff. I wouldn't stress too much about people stealing your ideas. It happens so rarely that it's not worth the anxiety and can prevent you from getting your work into people's hands. With that said, I also register my work prior to sending it out or submitting to contests -- I go through the U.S. Copyright Office rather than the WGA though.
Thank y'all for your kind advice, quite helpful.
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Once it's written, it's yours. That's why there are Copywrite laws set into place. BUT, there is always a but in everything that deals with law. I know with the books that I have written, they are covered here in the states, but if an outside entity in another country were to pirate them, there isn't much I can do. Just trust your gut instinct when you share your ideas. I believe there are more honest people that want to help then there are those who want to harm. Follow the advice of those on here, I don't think they would lead you wrong.
Business is business. People who try to bring anything to the marketplace in every line of business have similar concerns. That's another one of the risks of trying to create something and bringing it to market. Good luck, Conrad!
Thanks Bill, I think it's worth the risk as well.
What if you register say in your country, Not WGA nor The US copyrights agency, does the law apply in case of copied material?
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Hi Conrad, that's an incredibly complex question. To get a real answer, you'd have to present a specific scenario to an international copyright attorney. For a start, please take a look at: http://www.copyright.gov/fls/fl100.html
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Always send a PDF copy of the script. "CC" yourself on the submission and save your email since it will have the time/date stamp and who it went to.
Fabulous Lindbergh, Regina, thanks a lot.
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Zooming out, I told S32 member York Davis this same thing... He was posting about giving a producer only a 6-month option. If you don't trust the producer (or your agent/manager/attorney/director/whatever), then don't get married. The relationship will almost certainly fail. You'll both put blood, sweat, and tears into the collaboration, but without trust, it will most likely ultimately fail.
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Yep Copywriting is what'll solve that problem. As soon as you finish the work register it online, and once you have an email saying your work has been submitted you've got a layer of protection against that sort of thing!
Yes Jim, totally agree.
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Copyright, copyright, copyright!
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I take a chance with my shorts. Chances are nobody will make much money with short videos, especially a low budget producer. However, I refer producers to inktip or ISA for my feature film scripts. However, it is a fact that you must risk to win. worrying about plagiarism before it happens is not a good idea. I do copyright all my work, even before I send it for coverge.
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As far as I know synopsis/concepts and ideas cannot be protected by copyright. I go through the U.S. Copyright Office, too.
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No studio / producer / agent / manager is going to sign an NDA furnished by a writer. I would tend to think you'd be doing more harm than good to your chances if you asked them to sign one.
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Ideas mean nothing without action. Everyone has ideas...Ideas become yours only when you actually do it.
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@Drago, I do agree. Ideas are the basis, that put together create a script. So I think it's not safe sending just ideas, but ideas in their whole which means a finished screenplay.
Pierre, you are correct. Drago, Annaluisa, true, ideas and synopsis; never heard that they're being registered. NDAs can work well for freelancers I think.