I'm sure this has been addressed somewhere, but how does a screenwriter protect their IP?
I have never submitted any of my work to contests or to Readers and Executives on this platform because I wanted to make sure it was protected. I have heard that managers and executives don't even want to see anything that was not protected because they don't want to be falsely sued.
I have also heard that sending screenplays to the Library of Congress was enough to protect IP.
Does anyone know the answer?
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I register my scripts with the WGA, which documents your authorship of the work. This may help in some disputes: https://www.wgawregistry.org/. The question of whether to formally register copyright with the US Copyright Office is murkier. I've written and published several novels. Under US law, merely creating the work gives the author copyright, although it's a good idea to add a copyright notice to the work. This should be sufficient to protect the work, but a formal registration may protect it further in case of a dispute.
If you have any real doubts, you should consult an attorney specializing in intellectual property.
Good luck!
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I register both the WGA West and with The Library of Congress. WGA is the industry standard but affords you almost no protection in court, whereas copywriting through the LOC secures your IP. WGA is a little cheaper but lasts only five years. US Copyright lasts your whole life plus 70 years, so US Copyright is far less expensive in the long run. Here is a link:
https://iphqs.com/whats-the-difference-between-wga-registration-and-us-c...
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Just spend $60 and do LOC. Anything else is a waste of money and your own paranoia
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The advice I've heard is registering copyright is the way to go. Better than WGA when it comes to protection legally, and redundant. (I am not a lawyer.)
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From what I understand, you can search copyright records through the LOC. If you register copyright and the LOC wants a hard copy, they will request it.
https://ask.loc.gov/faq/299737
https://www.copyright.gov/help/faq/faq-register.html#
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To clarify, the LOC is predominantly for published works. For example, publishers send their books to be cataloged.
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Imagine you will Not Send a SPECULATION Script to anyone.. Yes .. if they are real and Honest ..they will LEGALLY Buy a Published Copy that you have printed that CREATES a LEGAL Paper Trail.. so EVERYONE Knows YOU OWN the Rights from the PUBLISHED Copy written .. if they REALLY are HONEST then they will ORDER it get it read it and yes make a DEAL.... SPEC SCRIPTS are the most Historic NIGHTMARE .. how many Millions of Writer's have shard their SPEC scripts signed Docs that say the STUDIO or Agent has SIMILAR STORIES .. so they can LEGALLY Base a STORY with their writer staff on what you wrote they read and then you see a Film Similar to your script Lolololololol and you get NOTHING yes so SELF PUBLISH LULU is the BEST in my OPINION .. here is my SELF PUBLISHED Work.. Blessings https://www.lulu.com/spotlight/sirtony and Yes ...if you want YOU can Give them a PUBLISHED COPY ..BUT when they see it is PUBLISHED will they READ IT !!!!!!!! LOLOLOLOL If they do then they are HONEST Legal Respectful souls.. AMEN !!!!!!! Wanted to inspire you ith a SOLUTION !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! https://www.lulu.com/spotlight/sirtony
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Registering a claim with the LoC means you will be entitled to statutory compensation if you sue and win in the future. That's a big deal to lawyers as it means there's a worthwhile payday in a clear-cut case of IP theft.
WGA even now state their registration isn't enough on their own on their page selling it. Stuff like that is only there as digital vaults to give additional evidence.
The Berne Convention means most people's IP is protected by default in most countries around the world. The issue is being able to afford to legally challenge someone who's stolen it, prove adequately that you were the creator, and then collect adequate compensation.
Sadly, it's all a risk and a bit of a catch-22 when you are trying to start a career and having to send your scripts out to a lot of people you are unfamiliar with.