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Work Stolen (was So fuxxxing annoyed!!!) (currently 3440 views)
wonkavite
Posted: July 28th, 2016, 6:40pm
Guest User
Oh man - just saw this! Anthony, that STINKS - I'm so sorry. Yes, you should have those suckers taken down. And they had the gall to not even put your name on them?
Pia - BTW- you're right... Phil's experienced a lot of issues with copyright infringement.
And our understanding of the law is that schools and students can't use a script either without permission. In fact, Phil had all his cases taken down. Two were students who stole his short "Until Death." And then a FILM TEACHER used one of his without an okay, as well. Go figure...!
I fear I'll find one of mine in that situation someday. Though - who knows, since the title could be changed, etc...?
I did indeed initiate YouTube's copyright infringement proceedings yesterday on one of them, and they took it down within a couple of hours.
So that's two down and one to go, I'm hoping for a response on the last one from those involved as I have written to the tutor involved... but if I don't I will use the copyright reporting process again.
I don't even know if I'd be flattered or annoyed. Depending on the quality of production perhaps. You have a right to be annoyed or angered though and congrats on pushing them to take it down. They should have asked. Most of them do.
Just out of curiosity, were the films any good? I've had stuff produced without my consent as well. It's really the gamble you take posting stuff online. I know Don does his best to protect the intellectual property here. Even still, it happens. It sucks.
Just a thought. On the home page where the STS scripts are posted, the headline says, short scripts available for production. I know that further doe in red letters it says you need permission from the author and so on, but I'm wondering if the wording of the headline would lead some to believe that scripts posted there are free to use.
I think the weirdest form of copyright infringement I've come across on this site was when someone took one of my features and used it for this service they created where you could act out your dreams.
This was the "filmmaker package", and you could pay this company $10,000 and they'd treat you like a filmmaker for a full weekend. You could shoot a scene, and then attend a red carpet premiere of your scene. There were a lot more bells and whistles to it, and for whatever reason, they picked a scene from one of my features (as well as a few other people's) to use as the scenes you could select. I took screenshots of it all (this was years back), but I can't seem to find them.
I found calling them up and yelling a lot REALLY worked. And naturally, threatening to sue. You better believe that site came down within minutes.
I also once had a filmmaker fight back, and I had to prove that the script was mine. It's pretty damn maddening to have to prove to someone else that the script you wrote is yours.
I read something a while ago in one (or more) screenwriting books and it was along the lines of, "If you don't put your work out there because you are afraid someone will steal it, that screams that you are an amateur."
Yeah, so what if you do put yourself out there and it gets stolen? It doesn't say anything about that!
I'm sorry this has happened to you Anthony. I would try to take this as a compliment. Your stuff is good enough to steal, take pride in that! I just had a quick look and no-one has stolen my stuff so I feel a bit left out. Although it's difficult to know for sure as I share the same name as a famous cyclist. When I search on Youtube I get mainly cycle clips.
If a short movie project is for educational purposes and doesn't make a penny then it's difficult to make a case in court. The best you can do is request them to be taken down like you have.
Making scripts available in a public domain is risking theft of the creative idea. That's the bottom line. I know some people who only publish the first few pages to avoid this but to be honest, I think you will get less options and sales inquiries if you do this but it is an option.
For more of my scripts, stories, produced movies and the ocassional blog, check out my new website. CLICK
Matthew - That's definitely a weird one, and not one I think would fly on Dragons Den as an idea! I don't think I'd have an issue proving they're my scripts, as they admit they are and I've got them registered, but glad they are registered.
Mark - Agree, and my shorts are definitely out there, I think it's one of the reasons I option a fair few... and I don't think I'm going to change that, I'll just have to check Youtube, Vimeo etc on a quarterly basis. There's definitely a backhanded compliment in there, every cloud
Sorry to bump this this thread up after all these weeks but I was interested to read it and a thought occurred:
What about watermarking the scripts?
I know it wouldn't stop someone stealing them if that were their intention but those who do it unthinkingly might be discouraged by "Copyrighted" watermarked across every page.
And if someone did want to steal it, then they couldn't print or photocopy it - they'd have to retype the entire script, which might put them off.
Sorry to bump this this thread up after all these weeks but I was interested to read it and a thought occurred:
What about watermarking the scripts?
I know it wouldn't stop someone stealing them if that were their intention but those who do it unthinkingly might be discouraged by "Copyrighted" watermarked across every page.
And if someone did want to steal it, then they couldn't print or photocopy it - they'd have to retype the entire script, which might put them off.
Just a thought anyway, for what it's worth...
I encourage folks to put on the title page the following:
"Copyright (c) 2016 This screenplay may not be used or reproduced without the express written permission of the author."
I may change that to:
"Copyright (c) 2016 This screenplay may not be used or reproduced for whatever reason including educational purposes without the express written permission of the author."
What I suspect is happening is that folks see that there isn't copyright on the script itself and assume it is in public domain. That or they do see it and are dicks... Or, assume that since it is for a class, believe that fair use comes into play not realizing that posting the work on YouTube puts it in a 'for profit' area.
I think they think it's fair use, which is a grey area in itself, but I totally agree that putting it out for public consumption on YT or Vimeo etc breaks even that tenuous link and effects a writer's ability to sell the script.
But to me, and this may be a Brit thing, but I was actually offended at the lack of manners too, who doesn't ask when using someone elses stuff???