How do YOU protect your ideas?

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How do YOU protect your ideas?

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DC

DC

Cinematographiliac
We all have ideas. The really good ones are subject to being stolen. Sad but true.

So how do you personally protect your ideas? What would you recommend?

Please take the poll and feel free to elaborate.
 
After I finish a script, I send it off to WGA. When I've finished enough drafts that it's about ready to shop around, it goes off to Library of Congress.

Talking about ideas on forums can both protect your idea and open it to stealing - while someone can obviously steal your idea if you talk about it, forums like this one also timestamp the time you make the post, which can give you protection as well. Your idea is copyright as soon as it comes in your head, it's just proving that your idea came before theirs did.

That said, I wouldn't rely on anything other than WGA/LoC to get a secure copyright. But if someone takes the idea while it's still in its infancy, you may be able to fight them with public transcripts.
 
I have a special hat made of aluminum foil that keeps others from stealing my ideas. Something about the atomic mass of aluminum keeps the waves of their machines from penetrating my head. Besides that, I keep my work secret from everyone but a few carefully selected people. But I should try that copyright thing.
 
mrWr0ng said:
Your idea is copyright as soon as it comes in your head,
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No.

Copyright protects “original works of authorship” that are fixed in a tangible form of expression. The fixation need not be directly perceptible so long as it may be communicated with the aid of a machine or device.

So...not until you can run a wire into your head and display the work.
 
I use copyright.gov. I'll usually do it after I've completed a script. I should probably do treatments but I figure there's no new ideas so...
 
I use the screen writers guild. There cheap enough and if its registered and some one tries to use it you have a better chance of winning in court. Going to court is expensive no matter what the reason is but if your property is copywrited you stand a much better chance of winning. Placing C for copywrite is illegal if you don't have a copywrite. Placing a R for registered is not illegal.
 
Just about everyone I know is a hard working filmmaker who knows how to start and (more importantly) finish a film. They are all so dedicated to working, and actually doing what they brag about instead of just being one of those guys who is all talk, and never puts anything into action. This makes it tough to protect any of my ideas. If I even think one too loudly (and all mine are killer!) I turn around and they have already been made.

I don't know if this is anyone else experience, but man, it sucks to live in a town where everyone accoplishes their dreams, and works hard, and has all sorts of connections with major studios and distributers. Maybe I should just stop trying so hard... then I'd be the only person in my town, hell, state, that is just all talk.

Anyway, gotta go, I have this cool movie idea about this town of young filmmakers who actually make a film. It's a work of fiction, I know.

No one wants your idea, so don't worry too much.:thumbsup:
 
I've recently come up with, what I think (IMHO), is a brilliant marketing plan for a film that I am almost done writing. I do not believe anyone else has ever tried anything quite like this. I think that between the actual film and marketing strategy, I could garner enough interest to raise some money for the production. I'm anxious to tell some people (who might be able to help me raise money from their investor contacts) but I'm concerned my marketing plan will be stolen for something else before I get the chance to put it into action for my own project.


So my question is . . .

Can I copyright (or in some way protect) my marketing strategy?

One thought I had was drafting up and having people sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA). But I can't see that being very foolproof (i.e. thieves telling their colleagues and then getting a cut under the table if it turns profitable).
 
JoeFowler said:
Just about everyone I know is a hard working filmmaker who knows how to start and (more importantly) finish a film. They are all so dedicated to working, and actually doing what they brag about instead of just being one of those guys who is all talk, and never puts anything into action. This makes it tough to protect any of my ideas. If I even think one too loudly (and all mine are killer!) I turn around and they have already been made.

I don't know if this is anyone else experience, but man, it sucks to live in a town where everyone accoplishes their dreams, and works hard, and has all sorts of connections with major studios and distributers. Maybe I should just stop trying so hard... then I'd be the only person in my town, hell, state, that is just all talk.

Anyway, gotta go, I have this cool movie idea about this town of young filmmakers who actually make a film. It's a work of fiction, I know.

No one wants your idea, so don't worry too much.:thumbsup:
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I guess I need to move from Los Angeles to Utah, then.
 
Kholi said:
I guess I need to move from Los Angeles to Utah, then.
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you know, i frequently make trips to my mentor's house in Eden, Utah when he's not there. it's quiet, removes me from my dailiy routine here in LA and is where I do the bulk of my writing.

here's a shot of it.
 
Zak Forsman said:
you know, i frequently make trips to my mentor's house in Eden, Utah when he's not there. it's quiet, removes me from my dailiy routine here in LA and is where I do the bulk of my writing.

here's a shot of it.
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That's what I figured. Seems like you'd be able to actually concentrate on stuff. Or, maybe it's my salaried semi-nine-to-five. Either way.

On topic:

I think the best way to protect your ideas is to produce them yourself, really. I keep thinking of different ways to save your own ass and it seems like just doing it all yourself is the safest, surest thing. And even then, it's no sure bet.
 
Michael T said:
I use the screen writers guild. There cheap enough and if its registered and some one tries to use it you have a better chance of winning in court.
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No.

You just stand a better chance of them getting in trouble with the WGA...if they're a WGA signatory.

It may help in court. If the court cares about you "registering" your work with a private organization.

Michael T said:
Placing C for copywrite is illegal if you don't have a copywrite. Placing a R for registered is not illegal.
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No.

A thing is copyrighted as soon as you fix it in tangible form. Go ahead and put the © on it.

The ® is for Registered Trade Marks, not copyrights.
 
Is the "Other" option like... a gun?

Because it's real tough for someone to steal your ideas if they're full of bullet holes.
 
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