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SimplyScripts Screenwriting Discussion Board  /   General Chat  /  Why WGA registration is not enough
Posted by: wonkavite (Guest), October 13th, 2013, 4:57pm
I've been doing a lot of industry reading recently.  Among these, a book called "The Writer Got Screwed (But Didn't Have To.)  One of the best tidbits I got from it is why WGA registration is insufficient for scripts.  I'm lucky that I've always used Library of Congress Copyright, but I thought I'd post this link, to make sure everyone else was sufficiently aware.  Incidentally, the Government Shutdown has closed off Copyright as well...for now.

Article here:WGA Registration vs. Copyright

Among the issues:

LOC costs about the same as WGA - so why go with the lesser option?
Copyright protection must exist before the alleged intellectual theft, otherwise legal fees and statutory damages can't be sought
One can't even bring a lawsuit prior to Copyright Registration
WGA "protection" lasts 5 years.  Copyright protection is seventy years from date of death.  Major difference there, no?

Important reading here, for anyone serious about the biz...and their creations!

Cheers,

J (Wonka)
Posted by: Pale Yellow, October 13th, 2013, 5:15pm; Reply: 1
And EVEN if you have WGA AND US Copyright, a cowriter can still completely STEAL your script....so beware...if you are going to spend your time writing ...protect it. US Copyright and if you have a cowriter BEFORE you decide to cowrite, have a collaboration agreement signed.
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