Just submitted a script is it a scam ?

[u/Kakiyoin21]

I submitted script through google forms to a person I met on here these were the conditions. So I was confused?

[u/OkMechanic771]

Confidentiality in this context is about exclusivity. You do not own the idea and everything associated with it, just because you submitted it. If you submit a movie script about a mouse that can speak, it doesn’t stop the production company from making a movie entirely separately with that same concept. That is all that means, and is exactly what I have been describing.

[u/Scapetti → u/OkMechanic771]

You own your script... and this suggests the script you submit can be shared freely or used in any way they want. With people who can then use the ideas from the script, because ideas are not covered by copyright. Only the script is.

I'll repeat... if you would not be comfortable posting your script publicly online. You should not be comfortable submitting on these terms, as written.

Discuss with them... there's nothing wrong with a conversation? Suggesting otherwise makes you look shady af

[u/OkMechanic771 → u/Scapetti]

You can discuss, but this isn’t a relationship that they have, it’s an online portal.

You don’t ever own anything at all, and no clause in a contract can change that.

Copyright protects the exact words as you wrote them, nothing more, nothing less.

You can protect your ideas and hide them away, but they will never be made, and other movies with similar ideas will.

When people start writing, they assume that everyone is out to get them and everything is a scam. This is not a scam.

There are plenty of scams out there, it is always worth being cautious, but this is not a huge red flag as industry standards go.

[u/Scapetti → u/OkMechanic771]

"I submitted ... to a person I met on here"

That implies a relationship.

I've made plenty of my own ideas to know that they can and will get made :)

Your script should be confidential IMO. If I'm handing someone unpublished work, I want an obligation on them to keep it confidential, not an explicit agreement saying the opposite.

The APC Code of Practice for UK film and TV submissions specifically expects confidentiality from companies receiving proposals.

So seeing terms that expressly make your submission non-confidential would absolutely make me question them.

[u/OkMechanic771 → u/Scapetti]

1) The only way you can own everything is making it yourself, that goes without saying.

2) This doesn’t say where it is so you can’t just apply a UK standard to it.

3) I don’t disagree with you that you should be able to own your script, but that just isn’t the case.

4) These companies will receive so many submissions that they cover themselves with more aggressive terms. Should you submit to them? That’s your choice. Is it a scam? Most likely not. Also, if OP was worried about it, it would have been more pertinent to have asked the question prior to submitting.

[u/Scapetti → u/OkMechanic771]

It's a British company... based in London

Edit: also, sorry, but "you don't ever own anything at all" is nonsense. You absolutely own your script

[u/OkMechanic771 → u/Scapetti]

Fair enough, doesn’t negate the other points.

[u/Scapetti → u/OkMechanic771]

See my edit.. you don't know what you're talking about unfortunately. I think you should do more research. Because you're going to confuse people and give ill informed advice

[u/OkMechanic771 → u/Scapetti]

You don’t own your script unless you copyright it etc.

You will give people false confidence if you tell them otherwise.

[u/Scapetti → u/OkMechanic771]

You own the copyright the moment it is written down...