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Suggestion (currently 3054 views) |
ReaperCreeper |
Posted: June 21st, 2007, 3:42pm |
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Been Around
LocationWisconsin Posts974 Posts Per Day 0.15 |
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 |
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Shelton |
Posted: June 21st, 2007, 4:10pm |
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Of The Ancients
LocationChicago Posts3292 Posts Per Day 0.49 |
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. |
| Shelton's IMDb Profile
"I think I did pretty well, considering I started out with nothing but a bunch of blank paper." - Steve Martin |
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Reply: 1 - 22 |
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Old Time Wesley |
Posted: June 21st, 2007, 4:29pm |
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LocationOntario, Canada Posts2908 Posts Per Day 0.38 |
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.
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| Practice safe lunch: Use a condiment. |
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Reply: 2 - 22 |
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Death Monkey |
Posted: June 22nd, 2007, 1:35am |
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Been Around Viet-goddamn-nam is what happened to me!
LocationThe All Spin Zone Posts983 Posts Per Day 0.15 |
I've registered my work at WGA, and I'm not American. |
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Reply: 3 - 22 |
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ReaperCreeper |
Posted: June 22nd, 2007, 4:52am |
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Been Around
LocationWisconsin Posts974 Posts Per Day 0.15 |
What's the minimum age to register your work there, if any? |
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Reply: 4 - 22 |
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dogglebe |
Posted: June 22nd, 2007, 5:54am |
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Guest User
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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 |
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Reply: 5 - 22 |
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alffy |
Posted: June 22nd, 2007, 2:56pm |
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Old Timer
LocationThe bleak North East, England Posts2187 Posts Per Day 0.33 |
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? |
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Reply: 6 - 22 |
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Old Time Wesley |
Posted: June 22nd, 2007, 4:03pm |
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LocationOntario, Canada Posts2908 Posts Per Day 0.38 |
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. |
| Practice safe lunch: Use a condiment. |
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Reply: 7 - 22 |
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Shelton |
Posted: June 22nd, 2007, 4:11pm |
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Of The Ancients
LocationChicago Posts3292 Posts Per Day 0.49 |
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. |
| Shelton's IMDb Profile
"I think I did pretty well, considering I started out with nothing but a bunch of blank paper." - Steve Martin |
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Reply: 8 - 22 |
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Old Time Wesley |
Posted: June 22nd, 2007, 4:22pm |
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LocationOntario, Canada Posts2908 Posts Per Day 0.38 |
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. |
| Practice safe lunch: Use a condiment. |
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Reply: 9 - 22 |
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Shelton |
Posted: June 22nd, 2007, 4:31pm |
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Of The Ancients
LocationChicago Posts3292 Posts Per Day 0.49 |
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. |
| Shelton's IMDb Profile
"I think I did pretty well, considering I started out with nothing but a bunch of blank paper." - Steve Martin |
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Reply: 10 - 22 |
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James McClung |
Posted: June 22nd, 2007, 5:38pm |
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Of The Ancients
LocationWashington, D.C. Posts3293 Posts Per Day 0.48 |
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. |
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Reply: 11 - 22 |
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alffy |
Posted: June 23rd, 2007, 10:29am |
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Old Timer
LocationThe bleak North East, England Posts2187 Posts Per Day 0.33 |
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. |
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Reply: 12 - 22 |
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Just_Initials |
Posted: July 1st, 2007, 2:47am |
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Guest User
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You can notarize anything for 10 bucks... Just as legit! |
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Reply: 13 - 22 |
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dogglebe |
Posted: July 1st, 2007, 8:35am |
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Guest User
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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 |
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Reply: 14 - 22 |
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Just_Initials |
Posted: July 1st, 2007, 10:48pm |
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Guest User
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I used to be a notary and had to notarize documents and contracts for the City of Nashville. All notarized documents hold up in court as proof of authorship.
So if you're on a tight budget or just want it to tide you over til' you finish your copyright app, that's the way to go...
Latas! |
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Reply: 15 - 22 |
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randyshea |
Posted: July 1st, 2007, 11:03pm |
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Posts57 Posts Per Day 0.01 |
Quoted from Just_Initials I used to be a notary and had to notarize documents and contracts for the City of Nashville. All notarized documents hold up in court as proof of authorship.
So if you're on a tight budget or just want it to tide you over til' you finish your copyright app, that's the way to go...
Latas! |
a notary is supposed to be proof of a true signature by a person, not ownership of the document. a contract is notarized for proof of signature to make sure the contract is properly executed. documents requring signatures to be properly executed are often notarized, i.e. transfer of title. if you stole a script and signed it and paid a notary to notarize your signature, and the real author copyrighted it, or had other proof that they wrote said script, then your notarized signature would not hold up as proof of ownership (of the script) in a court of law. |
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Reply: 16 - 22 |
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Just_Initials |
Posted: July 2nd, 2007, 12:04am |
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Guest User
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Oh Good Lord! I try to help someone out and I get nitpicked!
All I was saying is that a notary can be used to authenticate the date and author listed on a document or work. Yes, a notary won't hold up against a legit copyright (dur-hey!) But, I don't think Gomez was trying to rip off another story either...
*Although, some states I've found would require you to notarize every single page! (ahem...Texas...cough, cough)
Sorry Gomez, next time I'll just hold in my 2 cents, Good Luck! |
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Reply: 17 - 22 |
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Jonathan Terry |
Posted: July 2nd, 2007, 1:08pm |
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New Co-Founder of The ImagiNation
LocationSpartanburg, SC Posts149 Posts Per Day 0.02 |
Something that's a lot cheaper would be to mail stuff to yourself. Now, I don't know how this would hold up in court or such, but I know a guy who always printed off his writings and mailed them to himself.
After he got them in the mail, they would have the post-date on them and he would put them away, making sure not to open them.
If it ever came up in court, he could show the sealed packs with the post-date on them. |
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Reply: 18 - 22 |
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Death Monkey |
Posted: July 2nd, 2007, 2:29pm |
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Been Around Viet-goddamn-nam is what happened to me!
LocationThe All Spin Zone Posts983 Posts Per Day 0.15 |
http://www.copyright.gov/help/faq/faq-general.html#poorman :
Quoted Text I’ve heard about a “poor man’s copyright.” What is it? The practice of sending a copy of your own work to yourself is sometimes called a “poor man’s copyright.” There is no provision in the copyright law regarding any such type of protection, and it is not a substitute for registration. |
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Reply: 19 - 22 |
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randyshea |
Posted: July 2nd, 2007, 5:05pm |
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Posts57 Posts Per Day 0.01 |
Quoted from Just_Initials Oh Good Lord! I try to help someone out and I get nitpicked!
All I was saying is that a notary can be used to authenticate the date and author listed on a document or work. Yes, a notary won't hold up against a legit copyright (dur-hey!) But, I don't think Gomez was trying to rip off another story either...
*Although, some states I've found would require you to notarize every single page! (ahem...Texas...cough, cough)
Sorry Gomez, next time I'll just hold in my 2 cents, Good Luck! |
Didn't mean to nit pick, sorry that I did. |
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Reply: 20 - 22 |
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dogglebe |
Posted: July 2nd, 2007, 9:43pm |
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Guest User
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Quoted from Just_Initials Oh Good Lord! I try to help someone out and I get nitpicked!
All I was saying is that a notary can be used to authenticate the date and author listed on a document or work. Yes, a notary won't hold up against a legit copyright (dur-hey!) But, I don't think Gomez was trying to rip off another story either...
*Although, some states I've found would require you to notarize every single page! (ahem...Texas...cough, cough)
Sorry Gomez, next time I'll just hold in my 2 cents, Good Luck! |
Signing and notarizing a script says that you signed a script on a particular day. While it does put you in possession of the script when it was notarized, every page would need to be notarized to carry any weight at all (and I'm not it would at all). One can always notarize a title page and put it on another script years later. This would 'prove' you have the other script years before it was written. And if you can afford to notarize every page of a script, you can afford to register it with the Library of Congress. Phil |
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Just_Initials |
Posted: July 4th, 2007, 8:15pm |
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Guest User
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What did I just say Phil?, forget I even tried to put a suggestion on here at all... |
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