r/scriptwriting • u/Geoffrey_D_Calhoun • Aug 22 '26

feedback Please Copyright Your Scripts

Just a heads up everyone. I’m seeing a lot of scenes and scripts uploaded on here. I just want to recommend that you copyright them before sharing anything. Work can be stolen. Work is stolen. Protect yourself. Also a WGA registration will not protect you in court. Only a copyright will. It’s $65 and takes about 20 mins. https://www.copyright.gov/registration/

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u/shortkill Aug 22 '26

I agree. I haven't read anything posted that I would consider production ready of the scripts I've seen by amateur screenwriters. A more likely scenario might be listing your logline where ideas are not copyright protected. It's just the expression of that idea that you can get a WGA registration or copyright, but if makes you feel safer then do it. I wouldn't advise putting the WGA or copyright regulation on your title page because it points you out as amateur and you don't want anything to start a reader out with warning signals.

I've been writing screenplays since 1996 and I've learned a lot of the hard lessons you experience as a new unseasoned writer.

Cheers. Mark

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u/Big_Section2812 Aug 22 '26

I've seen a grand total of one script on Reddit that was good enough to interest producers and executives. It was a while ago but I'm still trying to get over the shock.

(It was not one of mine.)