Hello. Does anybody know what is the best way to protect the authorship of my script in the USA?
I am an Irish writer/screenwriter and we have automatic protection here when we write something and I can share it, but I read that I need to be careful when I send out my work to the USA. I don't want to be disrespectful to American professionals/companies, I am just cautious. Do I need to register my script in the US or manuscript if it is adapted into a screenplay before I submit my work to anywhere? Thank you!
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Hi Tatiana. Writers Guild of America offers a simple registration service which is widely recognised and accepted in the USA and is sufficient for submissions. At a later stage if you''re going into production you can also copyright at Library of Congress. https://www.wgawregistry.org
John Clive Carter Thanks very much John!
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It's a conversation that been done to death but it's commonly agreed that the best route is to register a claim with the Library of Congress (LoC). WGA registration should only be additional to that. Their site even states this.
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CJ Walley Thanks for this! Can I register just first episode or can I register episode & pitch deck as it has the description of other episodes & characters? Does the Library of Congress accept Pilot?
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Tatiana Tierney, with a TV concept, it's the show bible that's considered the most valuable asset. That's where most of your IP is tied up, so that's the document to prioritise protection of. Personally, I'd probably bang everything into one document (bible, pilot, episode) and register a claim to that. I'm not sure what their categorisation is, but I don't think that's critical.
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CJ Walley So helpful !! thank you CJ Walley, much appreciated.
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CJ Walley reg. title when register ...because the pitch deck is included, shall I add just title e.g. A Thread of Secrets" or Thread of Secrets Pilot?
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Tatiana Tierney I registered a pilot with USCO and only used the actual title and they added "pilot" in the certification document because it's on the title page and headers. There's a comment box in the process where you can make notations if you want to explain there that it's a pitch deck with independent parts or what have you.
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Mike Childress Thanks very much Mike. I just submitted my application to register my works and separated the pitch and the pilot as there is only one option for unpublished works - minimum TWO documents, so I had to make two instead putting everything in one document. The second one....I made a mistake not to add Pilot. I guess I have to email them asking to add Pilot to the title as it is on the title page. It's just what you said. Appreciate your helpful reply Mike!
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Tatiana Tierney Not a problem. I know someone on this platform had previously asked about copyrighting a pitch deck, but I don't think they were including the actual screenplay... I don't know if you saw on the site, but now the USCO lets one register up to ten unpublished works (of the same type) for one application fee. Not sure if you could do scripts and pitch decks, but just FYI for future registrations! I wouldn't worry about the lack of inclusion of the word "pilot" since the certification is more about the entire body of work than the title... As you already emailed them they can change it anyhow.
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Glad you got it sorted. Good call by Mike Childress about keeping fees down. I wouldn't worry about the word pilot either.
I am probably one of those who worry least about somebody stealing from me. My attitude is that if somebody in USA steals my translated screenplay, then it will be easier for me to sell the play version in my native country. Plus selling other scripts in my native country.