protecting a treatment

[AlexCFrey]

Hello,

I just finished writing a treatment. A producer I am connected to has requested to read this treatment. I want to protect my work, but I am unfamiliar with the proper contract that needs to be signed. Or do I just need to register the treatment with WGA?

Does anyone know of any websites that provide sample contract templates? Or know where I can learn more about this matter? I don't have the funds to speak with an entertainment lawyer:laugh:

Any help or advice would be great, as I am very lost! Thanks.

 

[msorrels]

http://tinyurl.com/2dfx3ef

The first three links. Golden.

 

[msorrels]

To not be completely snarky there is a free sample writer to producer NDA here:
http://www.sonnyboo.com/downloads/downloads.htmhttp://www.sonnyboo.com/downloads/individ/nda.pdf

I doubt any producer would ever sign it, and I'm not really sure it would hold up in court. NDA's tend to not have as much weight in court as you'd think. And specific local laws often trip them up.

 

[Randall_Oelerich]

I always register my story outline (logline, one page summary, scenes), treatment, first draft, and final draft with the US Library of Congress; online, $35 online payment, immediate upload, and has the best legal protection and longevity for protecting one's work (far far better legally than WGA, and protection will outlast your lifetime).

Then I wait and hope someone steals my story/script and makes a movie and a boatload of money at the box office, so I can sue them and my share of the treasure, lol.
randall

 

[Randall_Oelerich]

http://tinyurl.com/2dfx3ef

The first three links. Golden.

Very nice. Funky too. rogar-BigGrin(DBG) And yes that was a good read from the lawyer about non-disclosure, US Copyright Office registration, etc.

I recently read a book titled 'Movie Money' and if it taught me one thing it was that I will most definitely want an entertainment attorney when selling a screenplay and/or an indie film.

 

[wcmartell]

Register the treatment with the WGA - takes a minute. That's all you need.

- Bill

 

[Randall_Oelerich]

Register the treatment with the WGA - takes a minute. That's all you need.
- Bill

Bill, what is the advantage of WGA over US LOC for copyright registration (if a writer is not yet a WGA member, which I am sure you are, but for some of us poor saps who not yet attained WGA membership...)?
randall

 

[BitMaestro]

I just finished writing a treatment. A producer I am connected to has requested to read this treatment.

If you'll forgive me answering a question with a question: and then what? What do you hope to gain from this?

I ask because I've never gotten an answer that would convince me to let a producer read a treatment for an original project of mine that I'm writing on spec.

A complete, polished screenplay? Sure, no problem. But a treatment that's not a paid step on a project that the producer has hired me to write? Nope.

Thanks - Mark

P.S. Sorry again. I'm not Bill, but as long as I'm posting, a few quick things: WGA is cheaper, faster and easier than LoC, but it expires after five years and it doesn't allow you to sue for punitive damages.