copywriting scripts and such

[LAmind]

How would you go about copy writing a script or song, or anything? Can somebody tell me in detail.

-Ivan

------------------
"A place for everything and everything in it's place".

[miker]

One standard way, in the UK at least, is to send it to yourself via REGISTERED post and don't open it until you're in court.

Another way is through a union, such as BECTU in the UK where you pay them to stick it in a fireproof cupboard somewhere, then by the time you're in court they've lost it anyway.

To be honest though, why worry? Just be flattered to be plagurised... :-)

[Gurdeep Samra]

Mikers has mentioned the best ways to go about it. However if you have the spare dough then it may be a good idea to see a see a professional about the subject (I mean a laywer -- don't know who to spell it though DAMM! MY DUM ASS!)

[deepcope]

just wondering about the laws, just so long as they dont use the exact same script, can they get away with just altering it but still stealing the same ideas plot etc

this is one of my nightmares, making a increadible story/film and some big league company stealing the idea, rewriting it but basically the same

[shirt]

Send it to me... I'll make sure no one else copies it!

[darthshawn]

Actually I was just reading a book on film writing legalities, and sending it to yourself is aparantly one of the biggest misconceptions in the film writing industries, and "a waste of postage money".

Of course I am dealing with american laws, whcich judging by your name I would say may apply.

If this is the case then fisrt of all, simply having your work written down means it is copywrited as long as it is original. Also inorder to prevent yourself from getting screwed you will want to register it with the copywrite board (to do so you will need to fill out a TX form I beleive) and then you will probably want to register it with the WGA.

[LAmind]

WGA is.........???

-Ivan

------------------
"A place for everything and everything in it's place".

[miker]

Writers Guild of America

[LAmind]

What's a "TX form"? And does it cost anything to register a script with the Copywrite Board and the WGA? How much?

-Ivan

------------------
"A place for everything and everything in it's place".

[darthshawn]

To register with the writers guild it is between $10 and $20 depending on certainn information about yourself (i.e are you a student)

The last figure I got for the tax forms is $20