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Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Interesting Copyright/WGA conversation on twitter (140 CHARACTERS @ a time)

@UncompletedWork RT @covermyscript: @Cocles i'm a working screenwriter. i'm no lawyer.be prudent/not insane/protect self/have a trail... #scriptchat

@jeannevb @eyamie just emailed ur the WGA vs. copyright transcript #scriptchat #pimpout ;)

@ brendanethredge @zacsanford copyright, but really, people need to stop worrying about this! It is soooooo rare.

@ eyamie RT @zacsanford W/Copyright you'll also need it if you sell to an American ProdCo that uses any of the guilds for Chain of Title. #scriptchat

. eyamie RT @GoIntoTheStory Hwd acquisitn/dev commty is small. U steal a script, bad rep gets round quick.Theft just doesn't happen much. #scriptchat

@ jeannevb I'm all over it like a pimp on velour, baby RT @eyamie: @jeannevb Not really!! You do enough! (it was a good convo, though)

@eyamie @jeannevb Not really!! You do enough! (it was a good convo, though)

@jeannevb Will do :) RT @eyamie: @zacsanford Right. I need @jeannevb to transcribe all of this for me! lol #scriptchat

@ eyamie @whomadewhoprods Hey @inkcanada ! U know the answer to this?? Will WGA recognize WGC documentation/script registration?

@ whomadewhoprods @eyamie @zacsanford WGA will recognize WGC documentation? Possible silly question but has to be asked

@ eyamie @zacsanford Right. I need @jeannevb to transcribe all of this for me! lol #scriptchat

@zacsanford @covermyscript I'm currently working on one that I know someone will eventually beat me to the punch, but my partners suck. :(

@zacsanford @covermyscript At least it validates that we have commercial ideas in our brains! One will eventually hit.

@covermyscript it sucks. has happend to @sdarancette more than anyone i know. but it's the nature of the beast, @zacsanford. it happens to the best of us.

@ zacsanford @eyamie With Copyright you'll also need it if you sell to an American ProdCo that uses any of the guilds for Chain of Title.

@ zacsanford. @covermyscript Seriously, I was 5 pages from FADE OUT on a script when the trades announced THE ROCKER. I still finished & it is a sample.

@eyamie @zacsanford The other pro for C was that it lasts forever. WGA only lasts five years before they "destroy" the file. I'm doing both. $55

@covermyscript anytime!!! xox RT @dawnbierschwal: @zacsanford @covermyscript Thanks for the WGA perspectives!

@covermyscript ideas are like noses. everyone has one. be smart, not insane about it. RT @zacsanford: re: Copyright vs. WGA. stop being scared about theft!

@zacsanford Some great conversation today on twitter re: Copyright vs. WGA. I say long run use Copyright, but stop being scared about theft!!

@dawnbierschwal @zacsanford I'd love to chat with you about it sometime. As you know, I was facinated by the Reitman/Turner situation.

@dawnbierschwal @zacsanford @covermyscript Thanks for the WGA perspectives!

@zacsanford @dawnbierschwal If you want, I can let you all I know about WGA credit arbitrations, as I know someone on the WGA credit arbitration panel.

@zacsanford @eyamie If you talk to an IP lawyer, they'll tell you Copyright is the only way to go. Sure it's extra, but I do both. :)

@zacsanford @dawnbierschwal I just do WGA when I first start showing and then copyright once I've locked to show LOTS of people. :)

@covermyscript cool. that's new to me. RT @zacsanford: writers copyright script, we had to copyright our purchase agreement to show full chain of title.

@zacsanford @covermyscript So writers had to copyright script, we had to copyright our purchase agreement to show full chain of title.

@zacsanford @covermyscript When we signed paperwork with guilds on our last shoot, we had to show chain of title and only accepted LOC, not WGA.

@dawnbierschwal @zacsanford Not even major rewrites after market exposure?

@zacsanford @eyamie WGA first draft and copyright "final" draft. If you sell to a signatory, you'll need copyright and not just WGA. #scriptchat

@zacsanford @dawnbierschwal The arbitration process of WGA is long and confusing, but you don't need to register each of your own personal drafts.

@covermyscript right, @dawnbierschwal but at that level, credit is really decided by agents and contracts at outset. WGA has little power.

@dawnbierschwal @covermyscript Example is Up In the Air. Reitman & Turner wrotes drafts completely independently. WGA decided credits based n drafts.

@thinkStory @covermyscript entertainment atty lately said though that WGA doesn't protect your work, they make no claim to. only CW does.

@GoIntoTheStory @eyamie WGA sufficient. 1st draft registration fine. Don't include reg number on title page. Sign of amateur to script readers. #scriptchat

@thewritertype @eyamie #scriptchat From my lawyer: "you can't copyright an idea, only the way it's told." For light relief: http://bit.ly/cFAgL6

@UncompletedWork Guys listen to @covermyscript she knows her stuff inside and out. Great story analyst with killer notes to boot! check her out! #scriptchat

@eyamie @covermyscript Your knowledge on this just made me a believer. I'll be coming to you for notes in about 6 weeks.

@covermyscript yes, @blackrugger theft happens. it's just rare. ideas are in the ether. people have similar ones. y three robin hood movies concurrently.

@covermyscript when working w/ partners, sign collaborative agreement at outset before word 1. then no need to waste $ on WGA reg. contract's there.

@covermyscript if it's a dispute over who gets what credit, that's a production / agent / sale issue. @dawnbierschwal

@covermyscript WGA reg @dawnbierschwal is to protect you from theft of intellectual property. u send it to prodco, they make it, don't pay. u prove its urs

@covermyscript WGA reg @dawnbierschwal is really to establish ownership of intellectual property. i wrote "X". but not credit. credit is different animal.

@covermyscript @dawnbierschwal if you come on to do a draft after some1 else, then credits will be agreed upon b4. if it's ur script from outset, it's urs..

@covermyscript if writing w/partner & ur worried. assignment writing differs. RT @dawnbierschwal: Don't deets matter if it comes down 2 WGA credit dispute?

@dawnbierschwal @covermyscript Don't details matter if it comes down to WGA credit dispute?

@iceberg061 @eyamie I did WGA once I was satisfied. I'm shooting that script soon so I wanted it safe for that reason.

@covermyscript it's spending $ to spend $. once you reg idea with the beats, characters and deets, it's reg. it's urs. regardless of evolution. #scriptchat

@covermyscript well, @dawnbierschwal if a totally different script then yes, re-reg. but if it's basically the same, but with major deet changes, then no.

@covermyscript if working with a partner to deliniate ownership of a draft. lest not nec. premise is same. RT @dawnbierschwal: I also reg major rewrites.

@covermyscript theft: theft is rare. i wrote "beverly hills chihuahua" at same time as that writer. he got there 1st not theft, coincidence. #scriptchat

@dawnbierschwal @covermyscript I think also registering major rewrites is smart.

@eyamie Thanks @covermyscript @jeannevb @sdarancette ! That's my approach too BTW - only register just before it sees light of day. #scriptchat

@ covermyscript here's my take on reg: $20, 1 time, when ur ready to show, until then, only discuss with "safe" people. #scriptchat

@covermyscript 1ce. i don't share work until it's ready tho except with BFFs. RT @blackrugger: Do u reg during rewriting or until you have a final draft?

@ covermyscript @jeannevb @eyamie feel 1 WGA reg is plenty 4 whole thing. theft is rare. people have very similar ideas. easy to feel robbed. #scriptchat

@covermyscript do u feel like that's overly cautious? i just reg 1ce. RT @jeannevb: @eyamie I WGA outline When finished script, I wga again #scriptchat

@ jeannevb @eyamie I WGA outline if I'm going to show any1. When finished script, I wga again #scriptchat

@covermyscript #scriptchat RT @sdarancette: I concur, Dr. WGA registration is pretty much all you need.

@covermyscript @eyamie registering is enough. keep a paper trail if submitting on ur own. theft happens, but rarely. doesn't hurt 2 b prepared. #scriptchat

@sdarancette @covermyscript I concur, Dr. WGA registration is pretty much all you need.

@eyamie @covermyscript That's what I thought. Then I read this message board hoo-hah. http://bit.ly/czL7DH

@moviequill RT @eyamie Copyright office, WGA, or both? With whom and when do you register? {WGA cheaper but only 5 yrs I think, LOC is lifetime}

@covermyscript always WGA 1st. copyright not needed. RT @eyamie: copyright office, WGA, or both? With whom and when do you register? #scriptchat

@eyamie Screenwriters: Copyright office, WGA, or both? With whom and when do you register? #scriptchat


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