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That would be a version of a "Poor Man's Copyright," where people would send themselves their work via certified mail and never open, so they could use the postmark as the copyright date. Trouble is, people can steam those babies open later and add stuff. Emailing yourself the script is about the same as posting it on SimplyScripts. Don's server will have the upload date. Trouble there is that computer dates can be changed or fabricated. Its not likely to happen on a public server, but that would be a reason to just register it with the WGA or copyright it. It'll be cheaper in the long run if someone does try to swipe it.
Mailing a script to yourself will not carry much weight in court. You can anything to yourself and carefully reopen the envelope and put a script in its place at a later date.
The best way to protect your script is to register it with the Library of Congress.
Mailing a script to yourself will not carry much weight in court. You can anything to yourself and carefully reopen the envelope and put a script in its place at a later date.
Phil
The funny thing is that here in Greece mailing your script to yourself is the only way.... There is no other way to prove your copyright. There is no organisation , no library , no anything....
And is very easy to open an envelope without damaging it. See the <<The Lives of Others>> for a nice tip.
Jayrex , our local Scriptwriters guild reccoment to send a letter.....! The truth is that there is one other way.... You have to go to a layer and he sigh a contract . But there he write that YOU claim that this script was in your hand this exact day.... He cant prove that the script is yours and he ask for 100-120 euros....
The letter costs 3 euros . Do the maths!
2-3 years ago there was the national library with a copyright department , but it was close because it was full with copies!
Guys, seriously, if you want to register your scripts... and you want the security of knowing they're safe, sound and protected. Do me and you a favor... Just send me your script in PDF form and drop 15 dollars into my pay pal account. I'll make sure it gets done for you.
Script theft doesn't mean it only happens when someone finds your script and then films it without you knowing anything about it (happened to me btw), it also happens at the next level. I've heard many stories, one from a friend who gets paid to write where the original writer has his script optioned or sold then the "buyer" has someone else or himself do a re-write and when the film comes out the original writer isn't even mentioned...
I've also seen where producers put themselves down as the first listed writer and the real writer second even though the guy just told the writer what he wanted the writer to change with the script.
It's a "me first, fuck everyone else" business for sure.
I've had the opportunity to work with someone in Hollywood, writing a script based her storyline. Problem here is that the story was a rip off of two other movies, already produced.
While it's legal to use someone else's idea, stealing a story is still a bozo no-no.
I've had the opportunity to work with someone in Hollywood, writing a script based her storyline. Problem here is that the story was a rip off of two other movies, already produced.
While it's legal to use someone else's idea, stealing a story is still a bozo no-no.
Phil
I couldn't be happy with myself if I took anyone's idea or story... It just wouldn't fly with me. There is too much ground to cover on your own without someone else's work weighting you down. I could never understand the person who could pawn off other's work as their own... It borderline pisses me off.
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Will somebody steal my idea?
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