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What If Someone Steals Your Screenplay?
Posted on March 14, 2011 by dan
Most writers I meet live with a deep-seated fear that someone will steal their screenplay, or will steal the idea in their screenplay, or will steal the title of their screenplay.
This is such a source of anxiety that most aspiring writers become paranoid and preoccupied with frightful imaginings of, “What if all my hard work goes to waste and someone else steals it and turns it into a big success for themselves”?
In terms of enhancing your creative effort, this is an extremely unhealthy and limiting way to think. It also points to a very limiting belief on your part, as well as a pervasive scarcity mentality.
First, the truth must be told: You can’t copyright an idea. You can’t copyright a title. You can TRADEMARK a title, but that’s quite an expensive hassle and really the work of a studio’s legal department. And really, they’re not trademarking the title, per se, their trademarking a franchise. So “Star Wars” and “Harry Potter” are trademarks.
But this gets into legal fine print that you as a screenwriter should not even be thinking about.
You can always come up with a better title. This must be your attitude.
Let’s talk about protecting your idea.
Okay, you can’t protect your idea. Forget about it.
Does that make you nervous? Does it make you anxious and fearful?
It shouldn’t. Because, despite what’s spouted in popular screenwriting books, the idea is NOT the most import part of a screenplay.
Do you know what is the most important part of a screenplay? The story. The execution of the idea.
A network exec once told me never to get depressed if I find out a show is getting made that has a premise similar to a project I’m working on. Why? Because what really matters is the execution of the premise – how you, the individual writer, creatively tell the story.
Keep in mind that for your spec script to be successful, it doesn’t necessarily have to SELL.
The purpose of most spec scripts is to put the screenwriter’s skill on display. A spec script says: Here’s how I write 3-dimensional characters, here’s how I write gripping dialouge, here’s how I tell an original story from a familiar idea.
In your screenwriting career, a common phrase you’ll often hear is:
“Hey, this script isn’t really for us. But we love your style. What else are you working on? We’d like to take a look at your other projects.”
Sometimes, a great spec opens the door for rewrite assignments, which is how most working screenwriters make their living.
The point is, you shouldn’t be worrying yourself about writing something that has a similar concept to something you see currently being produced.
And you certainly shouldn’t be worrying about someone stealing your original idea, because it just doesn’t matter.
Let me ask you this:
Suppose someone DOES steal your original idea. With me? Someone just blatantly stole your idea!
Let’s think this through…
So they steal your idea, and then they do what with it?
Well, most likely, they’re not going to do a Goddamn thing with your idea. Maybe they’ll write 10 pages of a script. 15, if they’re feeling particularly inspired.
But are they going to write a full length feature? No way. The kind of person who steals another person’s idea simply doesn’t have the creative faculties, nor the discipline, to sit down and write a complete screenplay. And if by some odd chance in hell that they do manage to write a complete screenplay, it’s going to be AWFUL.
So don’t worry about someone stealing your idea. If they do, take it as proof that your idea is bloody GREAT and that you must make your script the best it possibly can be. Because, look, the thief just isn’t going to do anything with your great idea.
Now, what if someone steals your ENTIRE SCREENPLAY?
Dun. Dun. Dun.
First, the best way to project your work and to prove your authorship is to register your script with the Writer’s Guild. No big deal. (Some people advise mailing yourself a copy of your script in a sealed envelope, but that’s about as effective as throwing darts at water.)
Now, the important point: No one is going to steal your screenplay!
It just doesn’t happen. I’ve never seen it happen. I’ve never heard of it happening.
But, for the sake of argument, let’s pretend you send someone your script, and the bastard takes your name off the title page and adds their own name.
Okay…
Now what do they do with it?
See, a person who would steal your screenplay isn’t going to have the connections or the resources to get your script in front of anybody who actually MATTERS.
No legitimate person in the movie business would ever give a producer, an agent or an executive a screenplay that they knowingly STOLE. If there ever were career suicide in the movie business, presenting a stolen screenplay would be it.
But beyond the negative career implications, no one is going to steal your screenplay because most people are GOOD people.
No one is out to get you, or is out to rip you off, or is out to destroy your dream. Most people have a basic moral compass that says: Stealing is wrong.
If you walk around with the perspective that people are mostly bad, self-serving and manipulative, you’re merely practicing self-sabotage. This attitude is going to hold you back from SO much success. People do not achieve success by operating from this place of scarcity.
Successful people, successful writers, operate from a place of abundance.
So, if you’re still worried about someone stealing your creative work, here’s a short phrase that will help put you in an abundant mindset:
“I can CREATE faster than they can steal.”
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