I wrote my script..  I am about to send it out there into the world..  How do I copyright it first?  I googled it.. but i've read many things.. soooooo..

So many times has this been discussed and even I'm still confused about how and why so good luck

I found a way to do it with money.  But my Dad said a way to 'put it to the man' and not pay them for copyright is.  To mail the script to yourself.. and never open it.  Cause the postal service dates everything or something.

I was told the same thing and it works in theory but someone on this site and I think it may have been Baltis but I'm not sure he said that, that would never stand up in court

If it wasn't him, I mixed him up with someone else who knows everything so it's not like it's an insult

Yes, I also heard that mailing it to yourself is not the best way to go about protecting your work.  

Not me, that was Marla actually... She was always classic for shooting out those remarks though... "looks around for witches in the air"

Anyways, no... I do it from time to time... Just to be more secure that it is my work, it can't hurt in no way.  I do however, have a copyrite attorney do most of my stuff... well, the stuff I feel is worth it.  You can also, make logs in your PC he was telling me... your PC can be used as dated material if needed.

I'd just be on the safe side, state to state laws are all about the same in this field "You do not have to pay for your own works security"  I'd live safe in that method myself, but Hollywood is a cruel machine.

Balt~

The problem with mailing an envelope to yourself is you could send an empty envelope to yourself, then put whatever you want in it and seal it after it's been dated.

But you can beat this. Put your script in and completely wrap the envelope is masking tape. That way when they stamp it there's no way you could fake it, or open it.

When I recieved stuff from like e bay awhile back there was never a date on the packages, maybe some places don't do that as much so if they don't place a date on the package than you are screwed

From what I understand, you can register your screenplay with the WGA for a $25 fee, and this will protect it for 5 years.  You can renew the protection after that.  It's an effective copyright (I think), and many movie studios and screenplay contests require WGA registration before they'll read your screenplay, anyway.

25 bucks for nothing in the end especially if you're not sure that your script is any good, some people who register there script are not that special, average even

Isn't a WGA registration required by most of the industry?

Depends which industry you want, indy or big time like Universal and Disney. I mean you have a 1 in a million shot of selling to those companies unless you're a sellout and even than you're chances are not very good.

I don't think you need to register indy films unless they get sold than you'd probably be wise to register just in case someone tries to screw you

does anybody know the British equivalent of this?

This is where I get confused - I'm a British writer but my stuff's viewed by people all over the world, so I'm not sure what copyright laws would apply..

u can copyright it for 20 bucks. i hve the wwebsite if ya need it

Your best bet for copyrighting would be the WGA.