I am finishing up a short script 20pgs long and I would absolutely love to get the feedback of the frequent posters in this section, I sure could use it... I am just a bit worried about doing so before we are a bit closer to production though... so what is the practice? Will the perma-link safeguard me?
Posting Scripts here - Mods please chime in
- Thread starter USLatin
- Start date
seansshack
Well-known member
If you are going to post it, you could copyright it first to protect yourself.
but if you wrote and plan on shooting yourself, less of a worry.
Up to you.
but if you wrote and plan on shooting yourself, less of a worry.
Up to you.
seansshack
Well-known member
can do it with WGA for $20:
https://wgawregistry.org/webrss/dataentry.asp
Usually what I use and required when submitting in places like inktip etc.
https://wgawregistry.org/webrss/dataentry.asp
Usually what I use and required when submitting in places like inktip etc.
Ted Spencer
Veteran
It's an interesting thought - it would seem that your posting of the script, unless it was deleted by a moderator, or the site went away altogether, would constitute almost rock-solid proof of your prior authorship due to its associated date/time stamp.
Unless you stole it from someone else : )
I'm not a lawyer, but I'd bet it would make it quite difficult for someone to plagiarize it if you posted it somewhere like here first. Same thing would seem to apply to a peer-review site like Zoetrope.
Just my layman's $.02...
Unless you stole it from someone else : )
I'm not a lawyer, but I'd bet it would make it quite difficult for someone to plagiarize it if you posted it somewhere like here first. Same thing would seem to apply to a peer-review site like Zoetrope.
Just my layman's $.02...
alex whitmer
Veteran
I have to echo Ted.
Even registered materiel is stolen, or as they prefer to say in Hollywood -- mined.
'We didn't steal it, we 'mined' it for ideas.'
(Hanna Montana and Prison Break to name a few)
Your call. Registering it doesn't hurt, but it's certainly no garauntee either. Takes a lot of money to protect/defend intellectual property. It's a risk one assumes when writing music, poetry, fiction or non, and screenplays.
You just have to hope the karma-active button is on.
my $.20 (adjusted for inflation)
a
www.alexwhitmer.wordpress.com
Even registered materiel is stolen, or as they prefer to say in Hollywood -- mined.
'We didn't steal it, we 'mined' it for ideas.'
(Hanna Montana and Prison Break to name a few)
Your call. Registering it doesn't hurt, but it's certainly no garauntee either. Takes a lot of money to protect/defend intellectual property. It's a risk one assumes when writing music, poetry, fiction or non, and screenplays.
You just have to hope the karma-active button is on.
my $.20 (adjusted for inflation)
a
www.alexwhitmer.wordpress.com
I agree with both... and there are supposed to be "Perma-Links" which will exist forever unless DVXuser got dissolved... by then I should have used up the idea for all it's worth... 
Yet the truth is and always will be that if someone wants to copy your shizzle they can so long as they balance of how much money and power they have and how similar it is...
I think I'll just post it in a week or so and save the $20... by then I will be shooting it in less than two weeks... BOOYA!
One more thought:
It not only is about the meat, but also about how you cook it that prime rib!
(and I don't mean photography here)
Yet the truth is and always will be that if someone wants to copy your shizzle they can so long as they balance of how much money and power they have and how similar it is...
I think I'll just post it in a week or so and save the $20... by then I will be shooting it in less than two weeks... BOOYA!
One more thought:
It not only is about the meat, but also about how you cook it that prime rib!
(and I don't mean photography here)
seansshack
Well-known member
remember you can't copyright an idea...
If it is very unique and someone likes that idea. Takes it and writes it a different way, none of the above will help anyway.
I use WGA just to draw a line in the sand. Would be very hard these days even with proof to say "hey I wrote that". I've seen shorts made by people that were very close to other story ideas I've read.
As far as I know, like songs, unless they stupidly and directly steal your work (without bothering to alter characters, scenes etc.) people can always cherry pick.
Me, I get too much of a buzz coming up with my own ideas. Actually I work hard at making sure I don't take ideas from other films, tv, scripts. I have even parked a few pieces that I've started when I remembered that I'd seen it in a film or show...
But I still use WGA for stuff I feel is rock solid.
If it is very unique and someone likes that idea. Takes it and writes it a different way, none of the above will help anyway.
I use WGA just to draw a line in the sand. Would be very hard these days even with proof to say "hey I wrote that". I've seen shorts made by people that were very close to other story ideas I've read.
As far as I know, like songs, unless they stupidly and directly steal your work (without bothering to alter characters, scenes etc.) people can always cherry pick.
Me, I get too much of a buzz coming up with my own ideas. Actually I work hard at making sure I don't take ideas from other films, tv, scripts. I have even parked a few pieces that I've started when I remembered that I'd seen it in a film or show...
But I still use WGA for stuff I feel is rock solid.
seansshack
Well-known member
limited protection. But protection none the less....
Sounds like a line from a condom commercial!!!!:happy:
Sounds like a line from a condom commercial!!!!:happy:
Cryogenic Filmworks
Veteran
Of course your should be aware that WGA is a registry. You register and I believe they will work with you in a court situation to reclaim ownership of your material. But that is where it stops (and I'm not saying don't register with the WGA, I have lots of stuff registered there).
Copyright on the other hand is done through copyright.gov and cost $45. With an actual copyright you can be rewarded monetary damages as well, where with the WGA registration you cannot.
Hey Cryo, haven't seen you in ages!
I see... yes, I guess that's all they do. They shw up in court, testify that you had it registered on a certain date and siyonaras no see you mañanas.
Yea, I wish I had the money to do it, but since we are shooting so soon, and since we are shooting it with a budget of $silcho, I guess have to deal with the fact that I might get my shaizzle stolenz... hmmmm... boo, poor Roboor.
And I just had someone send it to 10 strangers for me, tonight I sleep in pryeys.
And I agree that Copyright AND WGA to back that up is the way to go.
Well put Cryo.
I see... yes, I guess that's all they do. They shw up in court, testify that you had it registered on a certain date and siyonaras no see you mañanas.
Yea, I wish I had the money to do it, but since we are shooting so soon, and since we are shooting it with a budget of $silcho, I guess have to deal with the fact that I might get my shaizzle stolenz... hmmmm... boo, poor Roboor.
And I just had someone send it to 10 strangers for me, tonight I sleep in pryeys.
And I agree that Copyright AND WGA to back that up is the way to go.
Well put Cryo.