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Do you guys copyright your shorts? (currently 2775 views) |
Conz |
Posted: December 20th, 2011, 11:16am |
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January Project Group
Posts349 Posts Per Day 0.07 |
not sure if this is the right forum, if not, my bad.
I probably shouldn't just up and say I don't (who am I kidding, I doubt anyone's jumping to steal my short ideas) but do you guys? When you write something less than 10 pages do you shell out the $20-30 and register it with the Writer's Guild? Should I be doing this? That can add up really quickly. Is it cheaper for shorts?
Oh, and if you want to protect your work, you don't have to answer and tell the world that your work is fair game... and I'm not looking to steal any of your writing, I assure you. I'm just curious. |
| I'd list my "work" here, but I don't know how to hyperlink.
"Career" Highlights -2, count em, 2 credits on my IMDB page. -One time a fairly prominent producer e-mailed me back. -I have made more than $1000 with my writing! -I've won 2 mugs... and a thong. (polaroids of me in thong available for $10 through PM)
@vc_wg - because I crave attention |
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bert |
Posted: December 20th, 2011, 11:19am |
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AdministratorBuy the ticket, take the ride
LocationThat's me in the corner Posts4233 Posts Per Day 0.61 |
What many people do is collect a bunch of shorts together and copyright them as a whole.
"The Collected Short Scripts of Conz", or something like that. |
| Hey, it's my tiny, little IMDb! |
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Conz |
Posted: December 20th, 2011, 11:25am |
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January Project Group
Posts349 Posts Per Day 0.07 |
wow, didn't know you could do that. very smart. thanks. |
| I'd list my "work" here, but I don't know how to hyperlink.
"Career" Highlights -2, count em, 2 credits on my IMDB page. -One time a fairly prominent producer e-mailed me back. -I have made more than $1000 with my writing! -I've won 2 mugs... and a thong. (polaroids of me in thong available for $10 through PM)
@vc_wg - because I crave attention |
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mmmarnie |
Posted: December 20th, 2011, 1:08pm |
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January Project Group
Posts1085 Posts Per Day 0.22 |
I do that too. A collection through the WGA. Only costs $25 |
| boop |
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Conz |
Posted: December 20th, 2011, 1:52pm |
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January Project Group
Posts349 Posts Per Day 0.07 |
I do that too. A collection through the WGA. Only costs $25 |
guess this is the way to go. also, good to see another Monmouth countier on simply scripts |
| I'd list my "work" here, but I don't know how to hyperlink.
"Career" Highlights -2, count em, 2 credits on my IMDB page. -One time a fairly prominent producer e-mailed me back. -I have made more than $1000 with my writing! -I've won 2 mugs... and a thong. (polaroids of me in thong available for $10 through PM)
@vc_wg - because I crave attention |
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dogglebe |
Posted: December 20th, 2011, 2:41pm |
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Just put it all in one .pdf file when you do it. Sending them multiple files counts as multiple submissions.
Phil |
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wonkavite |
Posted: December 20th, 2011, 7:59pm |
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Agreeing with everyone else here. Copyright as a collected work.. But I recommend doing it through Library of Congress - same basic price, and it lasts longer. |
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Baltis. |
Posted: December 20th, 2011, 8:30pm |
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I have all my short scripts filed into two different collections.
"A Long Strange Trip 1,2 and 3"
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"Hallows of Horror 1 and 2"
I'm working on a 3rd as we speak... called "The Cold Night's Empty Light".
Pack them in, I usually do about 5 to 6 stories each. |
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Grandma Bear |
Posted: December 20th, 2011, 8:44pm |
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Administrator
LocationThe Swamp... Posts7967 Posts Per Day 1.35 |
I used to but not anymore. I have over 50 shorts posted online. 20 have been produced and only one without permission. I honestly don't see the point unless I write something that's real GOLD! |
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Electric Dreamer |
Posted: December 21st, 2011, 9:12am |
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Old Timer Taking a long vacation from the holidays.
LocationLos Angeles Posts2740 Posts Per Day 0.55 |
Good to know about the collections. Hadn't thought of that. In my rush to protect ideas, I spent more than I should have. But, I only have four shorts so it ain't the end of days. Over 50 shorts, Pia?!? Wow, that's one for every week of the year! E.D. |
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Grandma Bear |
Posted: December 21st, 2011, 1:37pm |
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Administrator
LocationThe Swamp... Posts7967 Posts Per Day 1.35 |
Over 50 shorts, Pia?!? Wow, that's one for every week of the year! |
There are more than 50, but some I've lost. There are 49 on my website I think. I'm fairly confident in writing shorts. Now if I could only learn to be the same with features, but I seem unable to. |
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kidd8th |
Posted: April 25th, 2012, 4:29pm |
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New Come at the king, you best not miss - Omar Little
LocationTexas Posts18 Posts Per Day 0.00 |
I'm the exact opposite. I can do features fine, it's the shorts I have problems with. So little time to tell a story... There's a certain art to it that I can't seem to master... |
| The two words that bring us all together; "FADE IN"... |
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Baltis. |
Posted: April 25th, 2012, 6:11pm |
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Guest User
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Also a little heads up -- You do not need to copyright every draft of a certain script. Copyright the 1st draft, WGA or TLOC, whatever you prefer, and then write, write, write... Don't worry about it being taken. The general idea is what is most valuable. If it wasn't then it wouldn't be worth copyrighting... Right? |
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steven8 |
Posted: April 25th, 2012, 8:53pm |
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Old Timer The Ed Wood of Simply Scripts
LocationBarberton, OH Posts1156 Posts Per Day 0.22 |
I always iron my shorys -- then I copyright them in bunches. As a collection is definitely the way to go, and Balt is correct, copyrtight the original draft and you are good to go. |
| ...in no particular order |
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Pii |
Posted: April 26th, 2012, 6:41am |
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New Procrastinator in residence.
LocationFinland Posts189 Posts Per Day 0.02 |
Just to clarify the terms, you don't have to do anything or pay anyone for you to have full copyright of your work, whatever the work is. Copyright law is written in a way that you actually have to make an effort to revoke any rights to your work. Registering a script with the Guild or some other agency simply makes policing the copyright more streamlined. But it's as illegal to steal your work in any case, registered or no.
I tend to do Creative Commons, as I support the ideology of free flow of information without screwing myself for all that I have. |
| The act of writing is a quest to put a hundred thousand words to a cunning order. - Douglas Adams |
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Electric Dreamer |
Posted: April 26th, 2012, 10:47am |
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Old Timer Taking a long vacation from the holidays.
LocationLos Angeles Posts2740 Posts Per Day 0.55 |
I tend to do Creative Commons, as I support the ideology of free flow of information without screwing myself for all that I have.
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Never heard of this site before... I'll have to grab my pick axe and goggles for a look see. http://creativecommons.org/Regards, E.D. |
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The Working Screenwriter |
Posted: April 26th, 2012, 1:27pm |
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New
Posts69 Posts Per Day 0.01 |
No need to copyright and/or LOC your very first draft. Only register the draft you intend to send out to people (i.e., script consultants, managers, agents, producers, etc.), which could be your second, third or tenth draft.
Also keep in mind: If you ever have the need to go to court over a copyright issue, your best bet is copyright with LOC. WGA registration apparently doesn't help a heck of a lot should you end up in court, especially if you make a claim for damages. |
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