not sure if this is the right forum, if not, my bad.

I probably shouldn't just up and say I don't (who am I kidding, I doubt anyone's jumping to steal my short ideas) but do you guys?  When you write something less than 10 pages do you shell out the $20-30 and register it with the Writer's Guild?  Should I be doing this?  That can add up really quickly.  Is it cheaper for shorts?

Oh, and if you want to protect your work, you don't have to answer and tell the world that your work is fair game... and I'm not looking to steal any of your writing, I assure you.  I'm just curious.

What many people do is collect a bunch of shorts together and copyright them as a whole.

"The Collected Short Scripts of Conz", or something like that.

wow, didn't know you could do that.  very smart.  thanks.

I do that too.  A collection through the WGA.  Only costs $25

Quoted from mmmarnie I do that too.  A collection through the WGA.  Only costs $25

guess this is the way to go.  also, good to see another Monmouth countier on simply scripts

Just put it all in one .pdf file when you do it.  Sending them multiple files counts as multiple submissions.


Phil

Agreeing with everyone else here.  Copyright as a collected work..   But I recommend doing it through Library of Congress - same basic price, and it lasts longer.

I have all my short scripts filed into two different collections.

"A Long Strange Trip 1,2 and 3"

&

"Hallows of Horror 1 and 2"

I'm working on a 3rd as we speak... called "The Cold Night's Empty Light".

Pack them in, I usually do about 5 to 6 stories each.

I used to but not anymore. I have over 50 shorts posted online. 20 have been produced and only one without permission. I honestly don't see the point unless I write something that's real GOLD!

Good to know about the collections. Hadn't thought of that.
In my rush to protect ideas, I spent more than I should have.
But, I only have four shorts so it ain't the end of days.

Over 50 shorts, Pia?!? Wow, that's one for every week of the year! ;D

E.D.

Quoted from Electric Dreamer Over 50 shorts, Pia?!? Wow, that's one for every week of the year! ;D

There are more than 50, but some I've lost. There are 49 on my website I think. I'm fairly confident in writing shorts. Now if I could only learn to be the same with features, but I seem unable to.  :-/

I'm the exact opposite. I can do features fine, it's the shorts I have problems with. So little time to tell a story... There's a certain art to it that I can't seem to master...

Also a little heads up -- You do not need to copyright every draft of a certain script.  Copyright the 1st draft, WGA or TLOC, whatever you prefer, and then write, write, write... Don't worry about it being taken.  The general idea is what is most valuable.  If it wasn't then it wouldn't be worth copyrighting... Right?

I always iron my shorys -- then I copyright them in bunches.  As a collection is definitely the way to go, and Balt is correct, copyrtight the original draft and you are good to go.

Just to clarify the terms, you don't have to do anything or pay anyone for you to have full copyright of your work, whatever the work is. Copyright law is written in a way that you actually have to make an effort to revoke any rights to your work. Registering a script with the Guild or some other agency simply makes policing the copyright more streamlined. But it's as illegal to steal your work in any case, registered or no.

I tend to do Creative Commons, as I support the ideology of free flow of information without screwing myself for all that I have.

Quoted from Pii I tend to do Creative Commons, as I support the ideology of free flow of information without screwing myself for all that I have.

Never heard of this site before...
I'll have to grab my pick axe and goggles for a look see.

http://creativecommons.org/

Regards,
E.D.

No need to copyright and/or LOC your very first draft.  Only register the draft you intend to send out to people (i.e., script consultants, managers, agents, producers, etc.), which could be your second, third or tenth draft.  

Also keep in mind: If you ever have the need to go to court over a copyright issue, your best bet is copyright with LOC.  WGA registration apparently doesn't help a heck of a lot should you end up in court, especially if you make a claim for damages.