Copyrighting short films

[boricubano]

I have a short I have just finished and am getting ready to screen and send out to festivals.
Should I copyright it? Is it suggested to copyright anything you make? How does one go about this?

thanks

 

[Luis Caffesse]

Check out the Library of Congress copyright office site:

http://www.copyright.gov/register/performing.html

Frequently Asked Questions:
http://www.copyright.gov/help/faq/

 

[boricubano]

thanks

 

[khmuse]

In addition to a copyright it is a simple matter to register the screenplay with entities like the WGA. Since the ownership of the film would be tied to the writes of the screenplay, you are afforded some additional protections.

http://www.wga.org/subpage_register.aspx?id=1183

 

[FatBird19]

as soon as you make the film, you own it, right?
how is someone going to be able to steal a film?

 

[mediamogul]

The underlying rights must have a clear chain of title. Either you optioned it, paid for it outright, or its yours itself (ie you wrote it). As discussed above the WGA way will work fine.

I am finalizing a domestic deal on my film The Clique and to show chain of title i had to give them my Option/purchase agreement with the writer and a copyright report that the writer had already.

Hope this helps! Cheers, Dave

 

[David Jimerson]

as soon as you make the film, you own it, right?

Yes. But registering with the copyright office gives you rights and recourse you don't have otherwise.

how is someone going to be able to steal a film?

By copying it. Or parts of it.