How do you copyright your short film?

whizzkid said:
Hey guys,

I want to protect and copyright my shortfilm how do I go about this?

Thanks!
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Everything anyone makes is automatically copyrighted. It is up to you to enforce that copyright by suing anyone who uses your material without your permission or without paying you.
 
whizzkid said:
Hey guys,

I want to protect and copyright my shortfilm how do I go about this?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Motion Pictures Deposit Requirements

Submit a copy and a description of the work being registered. The nature of the copy and description may vary, depending upon the factors indicated below.

For All Published Motion Pictures

A separate description of the nature and general content of the work, for example, a shooting script, a synopsis, or a pressbook; and
One complete copy of the work. A copy is complete if it is undamaged and free of splices and defects that would interfere with viewing the work.
For motion pictures first published in the U.S.:

One complete copy of the best edition.

For motion pictures first published abroad:

One complete copy as first published or one copy of the best edition.

For Unpublished Motion Pictures

a separate description of the work and
a copy of the work containing all the visual and aural elements covered by the registration. An alternative deposit option is available for unpublished motion pictures. See 37 CFR 202.21 (g)(1).
Requirements for Motion Pictures That Cannot Be Viewed by the Copyright Office Staff

The Examining Division does not have equipment to view motion pictures in certain formats, including 1-inch open reel videotapes, D-2 and other digital videocassettes, and 8mm videocassettes. If you send one of these formats, please include the credits in the separate written description. If the work was first published before March 1, 1989, the Copyright Office must examine the work for the required copyright notice. In this case, please send the best edition copy and a copy that the Examining Division can view, for example, a 1/2-inch VHS videocassette.

For information on deposit requirements for works published before Jan. 1, 1978, and for special exceptions to the normal deposit requirements, please see Circular 45, Copyright Registration for Motion Pictures Including Video Recordings.
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You'll need to fill out a Form PA found here.

Check out the US COPYRIGHT site.

I think it costs about $40.
 
Copyright is automatic, yes. You don't have access to courts to enforce it unless you register the copyright, though.
 
Call a local copyright atty and let them do it. It does not cost much and gained is the peace of mind when you are pitching. Registering a trademark is more expensive but worth it if you want to tang on to that title/logo.
 
Just did it at the copyright office....$50 for a completed piece. $100 for a piece in production to protect it during production. Just to let you know, you cannot copyright a concept..If you are making a film about yellow lead pencils for instance, that does not prevent anyone else from making a film about the same subject.

Oh and I believe the traditional PA form now has a new designation. Checking the copyright office will point you to the correct form.
 
To elaborate on my automatic comment: if you want to file a suit you will need to register the work. If you do it when filing the lawsuit you will have to be an extra fee. In the case of productions, especially small ones, you have the unique advantage of having people in the product; people who can verify your ownership if there's any question. But, with a few exceptions, it usually never comes up anyway.
 
Ownership can be a tricky thing. You don't want to wait to file your registration.

If it comes to a lawsuit, it will be because someone is putting YOUR film out there and claiming to own it. Not because someone made a SIMILAR film.

That person could claim they were the 'Executive Producer'. The cast and crew never saw them because they just put up the money, and they can claim you never told your cast and crew about it.

Another possible scenario is a DP or cinematographer who claims ownership of the tapes and all images on them -- and therefore, any work derived from them -- in the absence of any signed agreement to the contrary.

Now it's a 'he said - he said'. Whoever has registered the film FIRST is going to have the best chance of winning the case.

So register the film with the copyright office as soon as possible!
 
Similarly, remember to get everything in writing. Make sure there's no question on what rights the other crew members have and what you have.
 
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