Whether you’re wanting to sell your script to a major studio or produce the film yourself, the next step you need to complete after typing in those satisfying final words FADE OUT… is register your script with the WGA (or Writers Guild of America).
Registering your screenplay with the WGA is a very easy, short, but important process. The short WGA registration number will not only protect you from theft but most or all major studios, agents, producers, actors and actresses won’t even look at your script if it doesn’t bare a WGA registration code.
Why won’t they read my script without a WGA registration number? Because, while the registration code can protect you from someone stealing your script (by keeping a material record of your declaration to writing a specific piece of literary work) it also protects others who read your script from being accused of ripping your script/idea off.
So, how do I register? To register your scripts simply go online to http://www.wgawregistry.org/webrss/ and at the bottom of the page it will offer you two choices: register online or register by mail. Select which one best suits you and beginJ! The site will then ask you to enter in your information including: name, title of screenplay, date, address, phone number, etc. Fill out the information sheet, pay a small fee of $20(US), and you’re done!
*If you register online, which I’m assuming most of you will, the WGA will then immediately provide you with a proof of registration certificate for you to print out (and I also believe they send you a certificate by mail, but I’m not positive if they still do this??). If you chose to register by mail then in about 7-10 business days (after mailing your screenplay) the Guild will mail you a certificate stating your proof of registrationJ.
So there you have it, easy as 1, 2, 3. Now you can begin to confidently pass around your project to actors, agents, major studios, and producers as you take the next steps towards your goal of MAKING YOUR OWN MOVIE!
If you have any questions or comments regarding this post please feel free to leave a comment or send us a personal message and we’ll be more than happy to help you outJ. Also, if you want to know more about what registering your script with the WGA does then go to this link: http://www.wgawregistry.org/webrss/regdetails.html
Hope this post was helpful and as always if you dig this post or this site, be sure and SUBSCRIBE at the top of the page! ~ Bill and Alexander Shumake
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
oops / typo
JOHN LONGENECKER, DGA
Director / Cinematographer
Academy Award Winner
213 273-3661
JLemail14@GMail.com
May 29, 2012
JOHN LONGENECKER, DGA
Director / Cinematographer
Academy Award Winner
US Copyright Office:
Copyright.gov
Research: StoryRights.org
213 273-3661
JLemail14@GMail.com
Hi John Longenecker
Thanks for your efforts to make people realize the importance of registering their original works of authorship with the U.S. Copyright Office.
For years, I was perplexed over why the WGA website said nothing about the importance of registering a script with the U.S. Copyright Office. The WGA only seemed to promote it’s own WGA registration service with the following purpose:
The WGAW Registry assists writers and other creators in establishing the completion dates of material written for the fields of radio, film, television, video, and interactive media.
Registration provides a dated record of the writer’s claim to authorship of a particular literary material. If necessary a WGA employee may produce the material as evidence if legal or official Guild action is initiated.
The Registry does not make comparisons of registration deposits, bestow any statutory protections, or give legal advice. Submitted material is not read by the Registry or other WGAW staff.
But then I realized something. The WGA primarily deals with the employment of writers, and writers who work under an employment (i.e., work-made-for-hire) agreement with a WGA signatory company/employer…so technically don’t own the copyright on the material they create. The WGA Registration Service is the perfect way to establish the date of completion and contribution of a writer on a given project and could be use in establishing writing credits and residuals.
However, original “spec” screenplays (original works of authorship) are not created under WGA jurisdiction because they were not created under an employment agreement. They only fall under WGA jurisdiction when they are optioned or purchased by a WGA signatory company pursuant to the WGA MBA.
This is why I believe the WGA does not promote the value of U.S. Copyright Registration.
Anyone who creates an “original” work of authorship should register their work with the U.S. Copyright Office and not waste their money on registering said work with the WGA Registration service.
Also, Copyright is a Federal issue, and a work needs to be registered with the Copyright office in order to file a copyright infringement suit.
The WGA Registration service is good for material written under an employment agreement where the Employer is considered the author.
Thanks for the good fight, John.
Best,
–Mark Baker
May 28, 2012
Hello
Submit your original work of authorship at the US Copyright Office for Copyright Registration. Your Literary Works, your Stories, Treatments and Screenplays.
Learn something about Copyright. It’s good for you. see Copyright.gov
JOHN LONGENECKER, DGA
Director / Cinematographer
Academy Award Winner
213 373-3661
JLemail14@GMail.co
Thanks John for passing this along. This is a great help and is much appreciated:)
That regestration works good for screenwriters in the USA what if you are out of the US and you want to sell your screenplay to producers in the US?
I would still register your script with the WGA (Writer’s Guild of America West) which will be great protection. However, If something were to happen and your script was used without your consent I think the situation would fall under whatever the laws are in Kenya. Now I’m not 100% positive on this particular scenario so don’t take my words as fact. I’ll continue to look into this matter because it is a great question but no matter what I’d still register your script with the WGA before pursing any producers. Hope this helps and let me know as well if you find out anymore about this
~ Alexander Shumake
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