WL Screenplay Agency

[oakstreetphotovideo]

I'm am certain that there are struggling writers for whom the $45 is a hardship. Since the copyright is created automatically, the "poor man's copyright" is not creating copyright rights. What it is doing, however, is establishing a presumption (providing some form of evidence) that the work was in existence and completed at least as early as the date indicated on the USPS's postmark. It serves, to some degree, the same purpose as copyright registration - to establish a certain fixed date on which we know the work was complete.

That struggling writer will be struggling a lot longer if he submits his scripts without legal protection. His script will be stolen, and he will not have an ice cube's chance in a very hot place to defend himself. It costs me about $50 a week to eat. I'd go without eating for a week to pay for the copyright, rather than take a chance on losing years of work and starving a lot longer.

 

[AMcFarlane]

I always register my scripts with the WGA. Costs $20 and you can do it online. You don't have to be a member.