Screenwriting : Hollywood Stole My Screenplay ! by Chase Cysco

has anyone in stage 32 ever been ripped off ? i myself have not yet

Chase Cysco Per my comment on the other post it doesn't seem to occur that frequently... There are a few attention-drawing cases like with "The Purge" script, "Lost", "E.T.", etc. Probably more likely to occur when a project has multiple authors and one or some run away with the idea, copyright a work based on it, etc. I couldn't find any cases of an entity just taking someone's whole script verbatim and profiting off it as their own.

I got ripped off back when I was a new screenwriter, Chase Cysco. I pitched a clown script to a producer on Myspace, and he liked it. I saw BTS photos on his profile later of scenes from my script. I confronted him about it, and he acted like he didn't know what I was talking about. I didn't register my script with the U.S. Copyright Office, and I didn't know what to do when someone stole my work. Lessons: Register your scripts with the Copyright Office and learn the legal side of the industry (you don't have to know everything about the legal side, but it helps to know things like what to do when someone steals your work).

Mike Childress right !!! i feel like its a more low-key thing , like lets say your a pretty well known writer , there not going to mess with you because they no you no better lol .... but the little guys with dope ideas and no clue about the business is probably getting supper finessed

Maurice Vaughan wow thats was really bold of him , to act like i have no clue what you are talking about lol ! , i have had it happen to me in the clothing industry but not film since i am still so new !

I totally agree you don't have to be a lawyer but at least no the basics , like how to own what you write lol , also my question , when you do the u.s copy wright does it do the title as well , sometimes i get confused how movies will have the same title ? do they have to lease it out ?

Maurice Vaughan Wow. Initially I figured WGA regs and the digital forensic footprints would be adequate for proof of IP ownership, but I am definitely a USCO convert. Also guessing you are way more likely to secure a Contingency Agreement from a firm with a copyright so you are not dropping a bunch of money on atty fees for representation on a case that may or may not be fruitful for resolution of injury...

Sorry it happened to you, Chase Cysco. But like Mike Childress said, it doesn't seem to occur that frequently.

I've heard over and over that titles can't be copyrighted. I also researched it a while back and found out the same thing.

WGA is a waste of money. USCO is what ya need. WGA registration is NOT even acceptable in a standard chain of title for SAG or distributors so why use it? And yeah, listen to the video. Protect your content like it’s your flesh and blood because IT IS!

Shane Stanley thanks Shane , i most def will guys, thanks

I used to register my scripts with the WGA, Mike Childress. but I found out it didn't give me the level of protection that USCO registration does.

"Also guessing you are way more likely to secure a Contingency Agreement from a firm with a copyright..." I'm not sure, but you could be right.

Chase Cysco You likely will not get trademark rights for a title... The copyrighting process deals with the entire body of the work(s) in toto. Even if you think you have a case of "idea theft" you will likely need to prove the Defendant(s) had access to the work(s) in question, and a copyright would potentially be a great weapon in the Claimant's arsenal.

Mike Childress ok thats why in the video he said to keep track records , emails , text messages ect just to show no look me and this person were going back & forth

Exactly. I had been ripped off and didn’t keep correspondences and notes. Dumbest thing ever.

Chase Cysco Yeah, with my first scripts I kept them close-hold before registering and then submitting to competitions. Not a single digital transmission prior to. I am from the Fox Mulder School of Thought, i.e. "TRUST NO ONE" hahaha. Obviously not trying to scare anyone into registering, but people have insurance for their automobiles, domiciles, bodies, etc... Why not for your IP?

Shane Stanley awww mannn !!! come on brotha , not even an email .. smh

Mike Childress no your 100% right ! i remember a quote from the movie Sandy Wexler lol , and Adam Sandler says something like "this is show business , not friendship business " that always stuck with me .

When you trust people at big agencies and your own manager you tend to get careless. I was always working and sent things remotely (usually via messenger or via real US mail) and phone calls. Not very smart of me. This was 25 yrs ago. I was young and really careless. Just don’t do what I did. I should have used email to correspond more - not letters in mail or phone only.

Shane Stanley Sometimes, we have to make mistakes to learn the right way. If it weren't for those experiences, you wouldn't be here today, sharing these industry gems with us! I've literally filled three pages with notes from your interviews, and you saved my ass from showing a pitch deck to a producer.... he goes thank god Cysco those are so annoying lol !

Shane Stanley Thank you so much for sharing your experience and putting yourself out there on what can be a touchy subject! It can often feel taboo to call out these sorts of shadowy practices, but it's cool to hear from someone who's not afraid to address a fear we all have to some degree. And you've gone one to not let that adversity keep you down but to make some great movies!

I just watched the video, Shane Stanley. Sorry you got ripped off. Thanks for sharing the insight and advice!

Pat Alexander exactly ! really inspiring ( : ....... he also has a book out Pat - https://amzn.to/3lk3KdP

Thank you Chase, you’re in the will.

Thank you for sharing this Chase. A timely reminder to keep my records up to date!

Ingrid Wren you are very welcome ( :

Chase Cysco If I am writing a Logline, Synopsis or a Treatment, I follow his advice. Shane does prefer an ending with more than one outcome where possible.

A long while back a Stage 32 & WGA member claimed he wrote the original screenplay for The Last Samurai (Tom Cruise movie) and something shady happened at his agency (I think it was William Morris), and a famous filmmaker ended up with full credits, erasing the original writer from cinema history and residual paychecks.

I wouldn’t doubt that story has legs Dan. Look at the Coming to America lawsuit and Florence Jenkins (Merrill Streep film) where a writer was finally accredited long after its release. I will say it’s THE agencies you have to be VERY cautious of… not competing producers. Think of the clientele and connections they have and how easy it is to take a screenplay and make the needed “legal” changes to skirt the infringements of copyright. It’s the places most writers are wanting so desperately to be a part of… the agencies that are doing this. Trust me

Shane Stanley I'm sort of amazed how nonchalant you sound about being artistically violated. But maybe you scream and throw fists off camera.... this subject makes me so MAD. I hate thievery on all levels and for all things. Sometimes our stories is all we have. And then some hyena comes along... anyway, I was at Raleigh during the Paramount Coming to America lawsuit. I met Pierce O'Donnell (attorney) a few years later when doing a theater show with his sister, He informed me that case was when the "No Unsolicited Scripts" rule came into effect, I'm fairly sure that's true- maybe you recall. I used to jump over front desks or charm people at cafes to get to producers with script in hand. Then they started booting me out after that LOL

Industry pundits say this NEVER happens, right @Dan MaxXx? This should be a warning about posting a script, or even a synopsis, anywhere. Copyrighted or not. Who has zillions of dollars (and years) to go after the scoundrels?

Chase Cysco Shane Stanley Maurice Vaughan I'm so sorry that you got ripped off. Thank you kindly for sharing your experiences. Though I always register with USCO, I haven't been good about documenting correspondence. I was assuming my legal rep would protect me. This is a big wake up call for me.

You're welcome, Robin Gregory. I also keep track of emails and text messages when I pitch or work with someone.

Robin Gregory dont think posting Stuff online is the same as what happened to TLS writer or in general with repped writers at powerful agencies who are basically production companies.

I hear you Dan MaxXx . That kind of ripoff is despicable.

The first time I pitched Domestic Spy to a producer/writer at a writer's conference she said I love the concept! I can have my writers finish it. I said no I want to finish it (I might do it differently today). A few years later I attended a class of hers at another conference and she said I thought about stealing your idea but I would never do that.

Robin Gregory Personally I am not worried about hosting my copyrighted scripts on sites like Stage32 or The Black List. I looked at a few cases related to screenplays and alleged copyright infringement/contract breach, and have yet to find a case where a writer has been ripped off from a website. With the big Hollywood studio cases most seem to be based on accusations of "idea theft", i.e. someone is alleged to have taken someone else's idea(s) and created a whole new script from it/them. Ideas aren't copyrightable. You get copyrights for the EXPRESSIONS of ideas, e.g. screenplays. One big studio case I did look at, which is kind of interesting and seemingly more anomalous, is the one involving the "Jingle All the Way" script and its original impetus work. Basically the original screenwriter was allegedly sitting in the theater watching the movie with his kids and saw characters and heard dialogue, verbatim, from his script. He and the company he had sold the script to sued, Fox I think, and won and were awarded damages. His original script had been pitched to the studio and it passed, but it had later purchased rights to the "Jingle All the Way" one. On Appeal the monetary award was reduced because the studio convinced the judge it didn't know the IP theft had taken place when it bought the JATW script. Obviously paper trails are important in most legal cases. I prefer discussions via email rather than telephonically for obvious reasons...

Thank you for sharing this, Mike Childress. What you're saying makes perfect sense. At the same time, I can't help but ask if someone were to write a film called TEETH, about a killer shark that unleashes chaos on a beach community off, say, San Diego, how far would they get? Ha!

Robin Gregory Haaaaaaaa

Mark Deuce Whaaaaat? That sounds more like plagiarism than idea theft...

On the other hand, Mike Childress , an author I know has been in court for 6 years after being sued by (deep pockets) Monster Energy Corp for using the trademarked word "monster" in the title of her children's book. Evidently, Monster Energy has been doing this for a couple of decades. They sue anyone that hints at the word "monster" or "monster claws" in a logo. Usually plaintiffs back down because of exorbitant defense costs. But Pokemon didn't. And Pokemon won.

Robin Gregory Yeah the Monster stuff is clownish. Basically corporate bullying via frivolous litigation. It has gotten some bad press as a result. With the film studios it's way more logical to purchase scripts than to steal them, at the same time potentially bringing that creator(s) into the fold, who may have more screenplays in their coffers they find marketable/purchasable.

"With the film studios it's way more logical to purchase scripts than to steal them." Mike Childress , I'm inclined to believe this and stay positive.

This is why you cough up every year for the Writings Guild of your country. The Writers Guild I am a member of would take a look at this and if they could see your work had been used without due credit would handle the legal case for you without question. They would also place anybody involved on Santa's Naughty List not a good place to be if you want to continue working in the industry.

Yes John Erwin. I so agree. I'm a member of the Author's Guild. Among many other benefits, they provide legal guidance and advocacy. Another great benefit: members inform each other about questionable entities. And, oh my gosh, they are legion!

I feel sorry for Chase and his situation. Lets all use it as a reminder to keep our own records of copy right. I generally just email a copy of my work to myself and then move it into a sub folder, the email is time stamped and the server keeps the work backed up for me.

The software I use and WORD also have Date Time Stamp records that could be used in a legal court case

I think UK Law is different to US as it gives a clear definition of Copy Right to the author and content writers I don't have to register work to establish CR.

I had one screenplay stolen. A friend of mine read my screenplay and worked on the movie. However they did change it enough to probably get away with it. That is what they do. I worked for a production company and they wanted to hire me to adapt a book but change it enough so they didn't have to secure the rights. The same producer wanted to change the screenplay because he didn't like working with the other screenwriter. Unfortunately that kind of stuff happens in this business. No matter what you do you can't protect your ideas .

I don't believe the copyright law covers ideas. I often wonder though, if one documents one's script's title and the actual script well enough, and it can be clearly demonstrated that it's his or her original work, then it could be an opportunity to get coverage in the press for a script which otherwise could or would have been destined for success joining the 99.9%. At least you can get personal publicity at no cost. That's why it's always great to be a screenwriter composing your stuff in a Hollywood boardroom.

Sorry you had a screenplay stolen, Dan Guardino.

Maurice Vaughan Thanks. I didn't care that much except I really couldn't send it to anyone after the movie came out.

Dan Guardino I guess the easy way to avoid theft risk is to keep all your scripts in a Gollum-esque treasure chest that you open up every once in a while to gaze upon the screenplay glory like, "The Precioussses..."

You're welcome, Dan Guardino.

Since I don't live in USA, I am not sure about what rules you have, but in my native country I would suggest the screenwriter to write a short story with the most important parts of the screenplay included. Then upload the short story so it is formally published. It will give you copyright.

Alternatively, write your story also as a play and persuade the local amateaur theatre to use the play. To see the story in front of you will give you valuable information.

Or turn the screenplay into a comics album which is uploaded.

Göran Johansson That's interesting. Also raises a valid question re: transnational copyright protections given so many screenwriting competitions (and script hosting sites) are international, and IP laws tend to differ from country-to-country... Guessing EU member nations likely have protection across the EU? I know some foreign works are eligible for US Copyright applications. I wonder how many non-US Person writers apply for them...

Göran Johansson That wouldn’t work in the USA. The only thing that works here is the words that are on the pages.

These are always accounts to keep track on!

Hi Maurice Vaughan , are there any webinars or blogs on here from legal professionals in the industry about protecting your work you'd suggest?

Great question, Ewan Dunbar.

Blog - "How to Protect Your Script from Theft" www.stage32.com/blog/how-to-protect-your-script-from-theft-3210

Webinar - "Avoid Theft: How To Legally Protect Your Script, Idea or Project" www.stage32.com/education/search?term=protect&h=avoid-theft-how-to-legal...

Webinar - "Screenwriters, Producers, Filmmakers - Get Smart, Get Legal, Get Protected - With 40-Page Downloadable Workbook!" www.stage32.com/education/search?term=protect&h=screenwriters-producers-...