Does a Screenwriter Copyright their Work Before or After it Gets Approved for Filming?
If you’re a screenwriter that is new to the industry, you’ve probably got a lot of different questions about how the copyright process works for your screenplay. You want to know that you’re doing what you can to protect your work and to ensure that nobody can steal it from you, but you’ve also heard mixed statements about the process and when it’s best to apply for a copyright. There are typically a lot of questions from screenwriters about the copyright process, but does a screenwriter Copyright their work before, or after, it gets approved for filming?
This question comes up a lot, especially for new screenwriters that have recently finished their first script and are ready to start sharing it with producers.
It’s certainly important to know whether you should wait to copyright your screenplay until after it is greenlit for production, but is this customary or should you take actionable steps to protect the screenplay with a copyright now?
When Should I Copyright my Screenplay?
Your ideas are potentially worth a lot of money to someone that can’t come up with those ideas on their own. And your screenplay? It’s like gold! But as a screenwriter, if you’re never sold your screenplay to a producer before?
You may be working on limited funds. Which means you’re probably trying to be as frugal as possible when it comes to what you’re willing to spend on the protection of the screenplay. At least until you know it’s going to sell.
Be Prepared
However, Hollywood, and the film industry in general, are incredibly competitive. Therefore, before you ever consider sharing your screenplay with other production companies or producers that could greenlight the screenplay for production.
You’re going to want to take the proper steps to protect it. You’re going to want to apply for a copyright.
So, does a screenwriter Copyright their work before or after it gets approved for filming. Before! Always, always, always do it before!
How to Copyright Your Screenplay
The first thing you need to know is that your ideas are not copyrightable. Until you have them prepared and written down. Thus, you don’t really have much copyright. Until you have a screenplay, film treatment, outline. Or at least some formation of your characters to protect.
A copyright requires written work that can be documented and protected. Therefore, as soon as you write your screenplay, it technically becomes protected by a Copyright.
But you may not seek legal protection if someone steals your screenplay. Unless or until you have registered the copyright so that you can become the legal owner of the work.
So, in navigating an answer to the common question, does a screenwriter copyright their work before or after it gets approved for filming. You now know that this process must take place before the greenlight to film, for good measure.
Now you need details on what the next steps are:
- Apply for a Copyright from the US Copyright Office.
- Enter the title of your work, year completed, and your name. As well as the names of any co-writers that collaborated on your screenplay and will have rights to the Copyright.
- Pay the Copyright fee.
- Submit your Screenplay file.
In Summation
Once you’ve taken these steps, you’ve effectively protected your screenplay from others potentially infringing or otherwise stealing your work. Should you copyright your screenplay before it’s approved for filming? Absolutely!
You should protect it by registering a copyright as soon as you finish writing it and before you share it with producers.
