How to determine writing credit(s)?

[joe78]

in a collaboration, is there a rule of thumb to determine who gets "screenplay by" credit?

for instance, let's say person #1 writes the first complete draft.

then person #2 comes along and makes relatively minor edits, but adds 3-5 new scenes, does person #2 also get "screenplay by" credit?

thanks in advance for any insight.

[wcmartell]

WGA determines credits... but I suspect you are talking about what's on the title page before the sale. That would be your agreement with the other writer - partner's contract or whatever you have.

- Bill

[TheKeenGuy]

Yeah, you should get a Writer's Collaboration Agreement signed before the other person works on the script to determine credit or, if not then, then as soon as possible afterwards.

Without a contract, the second writer legally holds 50% of the copyright. It doesn't matter that he/she did not write 50% of the script.