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SimplyScripts Screenwriting Discussion Board    Screenwriting Discussion    Screenwriting Class  ›  Can you copyright superpowers? Moderators: George Willson
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  Author    Can you copyright superpowers?   (currently 3036 views)
Mr.Ripley
Posted: April 17th, 2013, 2:09pm Report to Moderator
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I'm copyrighting one of my works with the US Copyright office and I'm clueless in filling out the section of limit your claims. I deal with superheroes in this script. Now the superpowers are not mines, but the superheroes are. How the hell do you go by registering it.  

Any help will be appreciated.

Gabe
    


Just Murdered by Sean Elwood (Zombie Sean) and Gabriel Moronta (Mr. Ripley) - (Dark Comedy, Horror) All is fair in love and war. A hopeless romantic gay man resorts to bloodshed to win the coveted position of Bridesmaid. 99 pages.
https://www.simplyscripts.net/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?b-comedy/m-1624410571/
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dogglebe
Posted: April 17th, 2013, 2:11pm Report to Moderator
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I don't think you can.  Copyrighting is for finished literary works, not descriptions of things.


Phil
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Mr.Ripley
Posted: April 17th, 2013, 2:16pm Report to Moderator
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I finished the script. I'm copyrighting a finished work. It just deals with people having superhuman abilities like moving fast or enhanced marksmanship.

My question deals with how to fill that section out for the script since I don't own those superhuman abilities?

I apologize in advance if my previous post was unclear.

Gabe


Just Murdered by Sean Elwood (Zombie Sean) and Gabriel Moronta (Mr. Ripley) - (Dark Comedy, Horror) All is fair in love and war. A hopeless romantic gay man resorts to bloodshed to win the coveted position of Bridesmaid. 99 pages.
https://www.simplyscripts.net/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?b-comedy/m-1624410571/
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coldbug
Posted: April 17th, 2013, 2:33pm Report to Moderator
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It's an idea that is copyrighted.   I think the idea of your hero's superpowers are automatically protected as a whole.  
No one can write a script about a man who can fly in the air, shoots laser rays with his eyes, stops the plane with his palm...and call it Amazing Man.  It's copying the Superman.  Same thing with Spiderman.  No one can write a guy who shoots spider webs to catch bad guys.
You are safe.


A lie has traveled around the world while the truth is putting the shoes on.
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Mr.Ripley
Posted: April 17th, 2013, 2:39pm Report to Moderator
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Ah. I think understand now.

Both to Phil and Coldbug. I apologize Phil for my previous post. I misunderstood you.  

I can use the superhuman abilities as long as they don't parallel a certain character like the examples coldbug gave.  

I can do something like shoots laser from arms and shoots web from crotch. lol. And name him, Whatever... Right? Cause aren't like these comic book characters based off these superhuman abilities?  

Gabe


Just Murdered by Sean Elwood (Zombie Sean) and Gabriel Moronta (Mr. Ripley) - (Dark Comedy, Horror) All is fair in love and war. A hopeless romantic gay man resorts to bloodshed to win the coveted position of Bridesmaid. 99 pages.
https://www.simplyscripts.net/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?b-comedy/m-1624410571/
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coldbug
Posted: April 17th, 2013, 2:45pm Report to Moderator
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you can make a hero who shoots spider webs from his eyes and ears... flies upside down..shoots laser rays from his palm...can call it "Whatever Man"  


A lie has traveled around the world while the truth is putting the shoes on.
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Mr.Ripley
Posted: April 17th, 2013, 3:10pm Report to Moderator
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Thanks

I registered the script with WGA already. Easy.

US copyright. like solving a math problem. lol.


Just Murdered by Sean Elwood (Zombie Sean) and Gabriel Moronta (Mr. Ripley) - (Dark Comedy, Horror) All is fair in love and war. A hopeless romantic gay man resorts to bloodshed to win the coveted position of Bridesmaid. 99 pages.
https://www.simplyscripts.net/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?b-comedy/m-1624410571/
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dogglebe
Posted: April 17th, 2013, 3:32pm Report to Moderator
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First of all, you can't copyright an idea.  You can't!

Depending on your characters, you might be getting in trouble with trademark violation, not copyright violation.  Superman is a trademarked character of DC Comics Inc.  Spiderman is a trademarked character for Marvel Comics.  All the published/produced stories that they were in are copyrighted.

Whether or not your characters are in violation really depends on specifically what they are and what they can do.  Most comic book heroes/villains are based on other comic books/books/mythology.  Having a character that is superstrong and can fly doesn't mean you're rewriting Superman.  Having a character that is superstrong, superfast, x-ray vision and was rocketed to Earth as a small baby is another matter entirely.


Phil
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Mr.Ripley
Posted: April 17th, 2013, 3:37pm Report to Moderator
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Ok. I officially hate copyrighting. But I believe I understand now.

I'm submitting the script up here so...let's see. lol.

Thanks Phil and Coldbug.

Gabe


Just Murdered by Sean Elwood (Zombie Sean) and Gabriel Moronta (Mr. Ripley) - (Dark Comedy, Horror) All is fair in love and war. A hopeless romantic gay man resorts to bloodshed to win the coveted position of Bridesmaid. 99 pages.
https://www.simplyscripts.net/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?b-comedy/m-1624410571/
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dogglebe
Posted: April 17th, 2013, 3:50pm Report to Moderator
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Copyrighting gets easier the more you do it.


Phil
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Mr.Ripley
Posted: April 20th, 2013, 8:04am Report to Moderator
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Well, I finished submitting it. Thanks Phil and Coldbug for the assistance.

Gabe


Just Murdered by Sean Elwood (Zombie Sean) and Gabriel Moronta (Mr. Ripley) - (Dark Comedy, Horror) All is fair in love and war. A hopeless romantic gay man resorts to bloodshed to win the coveted position of Bridesmaid. 99 pages.
https://www.simplyscripts.net/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?b-comedy/m-1624410571/
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