Only members should be able to read unproduced scripts here. I am getting increasingly worried that my work might be stolen and I can't register it at the writer's guild due to my age (plus, I don't know if you need to be American to register it anyway).

I am aware that it has happened before to someone on this site and that sucks, that's why I'm afraid to post my own work here.  I think the unproduced section of the site should be restricted to members only.

I dunno if anyonen agrees...

--Julio

I don't know what creating an account would do to stop something like that though.  It would add a few steps to the process for them to be able to view things, but the end result would still give them vision.

Also, if someone signs up as say "Mr. Fakename" so he can view scripts, he can view all the scripts he wants and nobody's the wiser if he never comments on any of them.

You don't have to be American to register with the LoC, but I'm not sure about the WGA.

You forgot that on the main page they can read them. The main page of SS has nothing to do with the message board.

As far as the message board goes you can probably request that your script only be placed on the message board and not the main page it may lessen the chances of someone stealing it.

I've registered my work at WGA, and I'm not American.

What's the minimum age to register your work there, if any?

If you're old enough to pay, you'll old enough to register your work.

Consider registering it with the Copyright Office.  IMHO, it's the better of the two.


Phil

The problem I have, is that it is so damn expensive to register your work!  I've been scanning the sites and most charge around £30-40 per script.  Jesus I'm glad I'm a slow writer or it would cost me a fortune.  even now I wonder if I can afford it, I know its not much but when you've bills to pay do you just take the risk?

Alffy, check out http://www.writesafe.com/wsreg.html because not too long ago I e mailed them and asked them specifically if they guarentee to protect work against being stolen and they said in short that it creates a paper trail that can be used.

I do agree that the copyright office charges a lot. Here in Canada the CIPO (Canadian Intellectual Property Office) charges like one dollar per page and I was confused by the rest so I gave up I guess I could have called and asked how it works but that involves brains and I have a little damage going on up there.

One thing you can do to avoid paying loads of money for each script is to register them as a collective.

Just combine them all into one file, name it "The collective works of Alffy" or whatever, and register three scripts for one flat rate.

Can you do that with the Copyright Office? Do they not charge on a per page basis though which would round out to the same amount of money? I remember reading on the CIPO website that they charge on a per page basis.

The writers guild has a disclaimer that says "This does not protect your work from being stolen" I believe Phil has mentioned that quite a few times but it literally says that as well.

Registering a copyright with the LoC is $30 I think, they don't charge by the page.

I wouldn't worry too much about the disclaimer.  Nothing can protect your work from being stolen...it's just a matter of having it protected in case it is.  Both offer protection, but for vastly different periods of time.

I don't think restricting unproduced scripts to members only would do much in regards to protecting from copyright infringement. I think the Kevan incident tought us all that. Besides, the main reason people submit their scripts here seems to be to get exposure. Not everyone knows about the discussion board. Otherwise, we wouldn't be able to complain about nonmembers getting free reads. I think putting restrictions on who reads unproduced scripts would eliminate one of the site's key benefits to try and solve a problem that really isn't going to go away.

Thanks for the link Wesley but is it just me or the site a trifle confusing?

Oh I see $15 for a script right.

Phil, I know what you mean about registering a collection but I only have a few shorts and a feature that I could combine.  When I do more I would have to wait until I had a few before combining them and paying again.

James, you bring a good point here because I read quite a few scripts here before joining so restricting non members might lose reads and new members.

You can notarize anything for 10 bucks...  Just as legit!

I can't imagine having a notary stamp would carry any weight.

Allfy, just register what you have now with the copyright office and worry about your future work when you have it.  I have two collected works and four features register.  The first one was done a long time ago.


Phil