Re: Interim Solution to Protecting Author's Rights
Actually, I wasn't going to add to this because I've been clear about how I feel about this whole thing in the SS thread, but...
I wrote my script as a novel first. Unpublished. I basically HAVE the very model umo is proposing. When I optioned my script, the novel was off-limits (even though it's done and dusted in my heart). My producer wasn't interested in it anyway.
Yes, I can still sell my novel (if it weren't dreck), and yes, I can show it to people if I want to, but technically, I could also show my script (which isn't dreck) to other producers as a writing sample anyway. I just chose not to (even when requested by another producer) because I didn't want to rock the boat. As I'd mentioned before, my producer was particularly nervous about lots of people reading my script but while I wasn't legally obligated to keep the script to myself (only legally obligated not to SELL it to anyone else), I felt it wasn't worth the risk at the time. I wanted to get my film made first and foremost.
Thing is, it's my script. I chose NOT to show it around while in development. I chose to keep it to myself because I had a producer keen to make it. That's my right, goddamn it! I wrote the damn thing!
Now... my producer doesn't want to renew the option. Bad, huh? Not so much. NO ONE ELSE HAS SEEN THIS SCRIPT. It's a brand new baby ready to launch onto the world - which my agent is in the process of doing as we speak.
It's my story and I should be able to choose who reads it and when. Having someone review it online would have pretty much killed this one card I had up my sleeve - its newness.
Thing is, having extra protection of copyright does nothing if websites are going to disregard the laws that already protect copyright now. Adding more rules they can break does sweet FA.
But umo - there is a problem with the system. And testing out ideas and options is a great way to work through it and possibly change it. I'm a big fan of thinking outside the rules. And talking. Talking is good.
It's when action is taken and innocent parties go down with the ship that I object. By all means, test out an idea, but please don't do it with my story, OK? (This is aimed at Carson, not umo, btw.)
Nic
Actually, I wasn't going to add to this because I've been clear about how I feel about this whole thing in the SS thread, but...
I wrote my script as a novel first. Unpublished. I basically HAVE the very model umo is proposing. When I optioned my script, the novel was off-limits (even though it's done and dusted in my heart). My producer wasn't interested in it anyway.
Yes, I can still sell my novel (if it weren't dreck), and yes, I can show it to people if I want to, but technically, I could also show my script (which isn't dreck) to other producers as a writing sample anyway. I just chose not to (even when requested by another producer) because I didn't want to rock the boat. As I'd mentioned before, my producer was particularly nervous about lots of people reading my script but while I wasn't legally obligated to keep the script to myself (only legally obligated not to SELL it to anyone else), I felt it wasn't worth the risk at the time. I wanted to get my film made first and foremost.
Thing is, it's my script. I chose NOT to show it around while in development. I chose to keep it to myself because I had a producer keen to make it. That's my right, goddamn it! I wrote the damn thing!
Now... my producer doesn't want to renew the option. Bad, huh? Not so much. NO ONE ELSE HAS SEEN THIS SCRIPT. It's a brand new baby ready to launch onto the world - which my agent is in the process of doing as we speak.
It's my story and I should be able to choose who reads it and when. Having someone review it online would have pretty much killed this one card I had up my sleeve - its newness.
Thing is, having extra protection of copyright does nothing if websites are going to disregard the laws that already protect copyright now. Adding more rules they can break does sweet FA.
But umo - there is a problem with the system. And testing out ideas and options is a great way to work through it and possibly change it. I'm a big fan of thinking outside the rules. And talking. Talking is good.
It's when action is taken and innocent parties go down with the ship that I object. By all means, test out an idea, but please don't do it with my story, OK? (This is aimed at Carson, not umo, btw.)
Nic
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