I am at the point of sharing my script with writers and I'm afraid of it getting ripped off (borrowed?) by better writers with much better connections. I am sure I am being paranoid but my entire story revolves around one very specific idea that is - IMO - novel and highly transportable.
For those of you more experienced screenwriters how do you protect yourselves against this and/or gain comfort that this cannot happen.
Forgive me for my naivete...
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you can register your script with the U.S. Copyright office. You can submit up to ten works for the same price.
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Welcome to the community, J. Walker. I agree with Seth. Here's a blog about protecting your scripts: www.stage32.com/blog/how-to-protect-your-script-from-theft-3210
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This ^^^ is what I needed to know. One caveat of significant concern though Seth & Maurice...IF "copyright law protects the expression of an idea but not the idea itself" (via link) THEN how does one protect an idea itself?
Pretty sure I know the answer (you don't?) and therefore then such is a risk that is likely not real for 99% of scripts and for that 1%; the price of admission.
I mean if it was good enough to get ripped off then it must be good enough to get picked up even if not first to market. Am I wrong? Thanks...don't worry I am not self-delusional just interested in managing my worst case expectations.
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unfortunately, the screenwriter cannot protect his ideas in any way from borrowing and reworking into another script. you just have to learn how to come up with a lot of new ideas that someone will buy one day.
the situation is made easier by the fact that many screenwriters consider their ideas the best and do not find the ideas of other screenwriters useful for themselves. but still try to keep secret the unique author's finds that you appreciate. (the online translator did not translate my previous message text very well.)
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Haha ---->>> "many screenwriters consider their ideas the best and do not find the ideas of other screenwriters useful for themselves"...perfect point. Thanks...I do feel better.
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FTR I took your advice and filed a copyright this morning. TY
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Hi Walter - I agree with Maurice’s advice to watch that webinar. I am also a big believer of in the power of the Writers Guild of America. You can register your script with them and they provide protection via arbitration if you ever feel you’ve been encroached on. Here’s an article on an experience my brother had where the guild stepped in and righted a wrong. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-jul-04-et-scriptland4-story...
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As long as you get your script copywritten, you'll be alright.
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Don't be afraid. US Copyright.
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It's extremely rare that writers steal ideas, but I was always told to copyright before entering contests. I only register with U.S. copyright not WGA.
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No.
Here is why:
https://youtu.be/sSWPtl3qgLk
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No, since a story alone is worthless. You still need to create a movie of it to make it worthwhile and that costs a lot of money. Besides, ideas can't be copyrighted, so your script will always be different than someone else.
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Nah. Professionals- corporate suits- legally rip you off with their lawyers and crappy contracts.
Maybe at the indie level ppl might steal your idea but usually they dont have $ or hookups to execute a movie.