Copyrighting Multiple Drafts

[Sarai]

If I have the first draft of my screenplay copyrighted does that copyright extend to all succeeding drafts? Or do they have to be copyrighted individually?

@;-

[Jamesaritchie]

If I have the first draft of my screenplay copyrighted does that copyright extend to all succeeding drafts? Or do they have to be copyrighted individually?

@;-

You already own the copyright to your screenplay. You can't go out and copyright anything. What you can do is register the screenplay, which is a whole 'nother ballgame.

With any substantial changes, no, registering the first draft would not carry over to subsequent drafts. But why on earth would anyone want to register a first draft?

[Joe Calabrese]

Not true.

When you register your screenplay at the US Copyright office you are in fact laying claim to the ownership (proving it).

You DO NOT have to re-copyright it for subsequent drafts unless the subsequent drafts are so different as to be considered a totally different story. As long as the major plot and characters stay the same then your first copyright will carry through all drafts. Adding a minor character or even changing a name or gender won't effect your current copyright. Adding or deleting scenes holds the same.

Of course, when you get to your final draft or just before a contract is signed, I would apply for another copyright, but keep in mind that part of selling your script requires you to sign over that copyright to the new owner.

And you should always protect you work, even if it is a first draft.

Normally, I register it with the WGA for the first draft (cheaper and quicker) and then use a copyright for a final draft.

[Joe Calabrese]

When I said "not true" it was for "But why on earth would anyone want to register a first draft?"

The rest was clarifying James' statement.

Your work is copyrighted technically when you have written it. Paying the US Copyright office 30 bucks is just to make it publicly known and establishing a "paper trail.".

[MrJayVee]

No need to register/copyright your first draft...unless that's the draft you plan to send to script consultants, producers, agents, etc. In other words, only register/copyright the draft you send out into the world. Feel free to re-register/copyright if you make significant changes.

[Joe Calabrese]

If a screenplay is written and no one ever reads it, no one will ever steal it because they don't know it exists. If that is the case and another similar screenplay just happens to be written, then it was obviously a coincidence and no copyright or register will help you there.

I always register first drafts because I have people read it.

[MrJayVee]

Absolutely correct, Joe. And yes, if you have people read your first draft, then that's the draft you register and/or copyright. I always cringe when I discover people registering their first, second and third drafts when it's their tenth draft they send out into the world. Arrgh.

[WritingFool]

Absolutely correct Joe!
hahahahah
Does that sound contemptuous to anyone else?

Never knew any of Joes comments had to be reassured to anyone here.
Good to know someones proofreading joes comments for authenticity.

Looks like someones trying to be the new Sherriff in town

[Joe Calabrese]

Oh... put a sock in it fool.

Sounds like someone agreeing with me, who by the way is a pro screen writer with more credits than I. Now that's a compliment I can take.

[WritingFool]

No one can take any sarcasm..tough room

[Jamesaritchie]

Not true.

When you register your screenplay at the US Copyright office you are in fact laying claim to the ownership (proving it).

You DO NOT have to re-copyright it for subsequent drafts unless the subsequent drafts are so different as to be considered a totally different story. As long as the major plot and characters stay the same then your first copyright will carry through all drafts. Adding a minor character or even changing a name or gender won't effect your current copyright. Adding or deleting scenes holds the same.

Of course, when you get to your final draft or just before a contract is signed, I would apply for another copyright, but keep in mind that part of selling your script requires you to sign over that copyright to the new owner.

And you should always protect you work, even if it is a first draft.

Normally, I register it with the WGA for the first draft (cheaper and quicker) and then use a copyright for a final draft.

I think the best way to explain registering anything is to say you're putting a time stamp on your work. That's it. Period. This time stamp proves when you wrote something. If someone else has a later timestamp, they're in trouble. If someone else can prove an earlier timestamp, you're in trouble. No matter what your paper trail is, if someone else can show an earlier trail, if their timestapm predates your paper trail, you aren't going to get anywhere.

If there are major changes, you'd better register it again. Copyright covers specific words and sentences, and unless you can show that your words and sentences have been stolen, you'll have a world of trouble proving anything in court. Adding or deleting a character, or adding or deleting a scene doesn't much matter. Rewriting most of the sentences can matter a great deal.

And most final drafts of screenplays I've read bear very little resemblance to the first drafts. There's often enough of a difference that you can't always tell the two were related.

I do think registering the first draft with the WGA, and then the final draft with the copyright office is a good idea. Sort of covers both bases.

[JustinoXXV]

For the paper trail, you'll also need proof (if a matter went to court) that said individual received your script. So you can save things like e-mails, release form, use delivery confirmation when you mail scripts, etc.