#pages (treatment) to protect story?

[Randall_Oelerich]

I have a high concept screenplay story I have a rough outline for-- appears to be unique, high concept, so I want to write a treatment to protect the story as best as I can (registering it with the US Lib Congress Copyright Office). Anybody have thoughts as to how detailed a treatment outline should be done to protect the story before moving on to the writing of the screenplay? Obviously I will outline the basic characters, beat sheet / plot skeleton (Syn Field structure, Hero's Journey), conflict scenes, hero goals (A and B story). Just asking for input as to how many pages of outline treatment might be enough to then shell out the $35 for copyright registreation of the treatment before opening up on the story idea with a mentor, consultant, coverage service, etc. when going on to write the actual screenplay. I am thinking 20-30+ pages?
~Randall

 

[KeithK]

If you have not shared the concept with anyone, why not just write the screenplay now then protect that? Then you can write the treatment if and when needed.

 

[Nektonic]

As far as I understand things, a treatment is not really copyrightable. Even a script is hard to keep fully protected because anyone can take the basic concept, change a few details, characters, names, places, etc. and then write a new script with the changes in them. Change the title and unless you can prove that this person had direct contact with your script before they created the rip-off version, then you are out of luck. Remember when The Matrix came out, people said it is the same as Dark City. Well, yes, the basic concepts and dark atmosphere are very similar, but enough is different about each film to not infringe on each other.

A treatment is much harder to protect because it is not something that can really be sold from what I hear. Or at least, studios and producers don't really like to look at or buy treatments anymore. Also, depending upon length, treatments are sometimes somewhat vague, thus rendering them harder to protect legally. It is better to write the script and try to sell that (A treatment can be a valuable tool in developing the story and script, so please don't think that I am trying to discredit the idea of a treatment.)

You should still obviously copyright and WGA register your script and treatment though. Better to be as safe as possible.

 

[Randall_Oelerich]

I might write (and register copyright for) a first draft without showing the idea to anyone, that would make a treatment unnecessary as you say. But I might choose to work with a mentor/consultant-- that is the situation where I would want a treatment (with a registered copyright). I know more is better, for copyright of a treatment, just curious how much of 'more' is standard; perhaps a somewhat nebulous answer by its nature. =)

If you have not shared the concept with anyone, why not just write the screenplay now then protect that? Then you can write the treatment if and when needed.