Script Registration
Protect your screenplay before sending it out
Script registration helps protect you and your screenplay from plagiarizing co-writers, unscrupulous agents, producers, script contests, and A.I. by adding to your legal “paper trail.”
FREE for 90 days | $15 for 5 years | $25 for 10 years
Script Registration
Protect your screenplay before sending it out
Script registration helps protect you and your screenplay from plagiarizing co-writers, unscrupulous agents, producers, script contests, and A.I. by adding to your legal “paper trail.”
FREE for 90 days | $15 for 5 years | $25 for 10 years
How our script registration service works:
Step 1) Fill out the form and checkout
We need your script and your basic information you’d like registered (name, address, etc.), as well as how long you’d like the registration for. Register your script for FREE for 90 days or pay for a longer term. When your term is over, we securely delete your script and all your registration data.
Step 2) We email your script registration certificate
Your script registration will include a unique secret reference code and all your authorship details. File it away and keep it safe!
Key Benefits of Script Registration
✅ We stand by you in case of a dispute or arbitration
Should you ever find yourself in a dispute with someone claiming authorship of your work, we will provide full documentation of your registration and testify to its full veracity if necessary.
✅ Creates a third-party timestamped proof of authorship
Script registration provides a document from a trusted third party (Screenplay Readers) with the time and date of when you submitted your material, as well as a copy of that material.
✅ Secures your script offsite
Your screenplay and registration are encrypted and securely vaulted in case you ever need it again.
Frequently Asked Questions about Script Registration
What is screenplay registration?
Screenplay registration is the process of archiving a screenplay securely with an organization that not only keeps it on file for a specific length of time but also ties it to the identity of an author and a time/datestamp and provides a document of everything to the author, which can help assert authorship of the specific draft in the event of a dispute. The primary purpose of script registration is to make it difficult for other writers to claim your work as their own.
What is WGA Registration?
WGA Registration is the process by which the WGA Registry archives screenplays and written works submitted by screenwriters, whether those writers are members of the WGA or not. The WGA Registry exists as a service to raise the profile and awareness of the WGA while bringing in revenue for the WGA itself — revenue which is typically funded towards pro-WGA services, community events, resources, and pro-writer groups such as the Writers Guild Foundation.
Do I need to formally copyright my screenplay?
You should. But what you may not know is that US federal law states that as soon as you write anything, it’s copyrighted. By you. Whether it’s finished or not, that work is copyrighted. That said, we advise going the extra mile and formally registering your work with the US copyright office by filling out their form and paying a fee. Keep in mind that while documents such as screenplays and outlines can be copyrighted, under the law, ideas or concepts cannot be copyrighted.
Is script registration necessary?
No, but the more documentation screenwriters have to help prove authorship of their work, the higher the screenwriter’s chances of prevailing in any arbitration or lawsuit. However, script registration is not the only documentation that can help prove authorship or screenwriter credit. Other types of documentation include copyright registration, drafts of the screenplay, and email.
What happens to my script when I upload it?
Once you complete the checkout process, we archive your script on our secure, non-cloud storage system where it’s never accessed again, unless you contact us and request in writing for us to provide it.
What kind of documents can I protect?
You can register screenplays, treatments, sitcoms, shorts, beat sheets, character descriptions, script outlines, pitches, television shows, and stage plays.
Does WGA screenplay registration make me a member of the Writers Guild?
No. WGA screenplay registration is not a free ticket into the Writers Guild. Nor is registering your script with the WGA a requirement for you to join the Writers Guild.
Should I register my screenplay with the WGA?
Many entertainment attorneys stress that formal copyright registration is the best documentation you can have. Without copyright registration, if your material is stolen or misappropriated, you likely won’t be able to find an attorney to take on your case, even on a contingency fee basis. This is because even if you win a settlement, you most likely won’t be able to collect statutory damages (which are usually what make it worthwhile for litigators to take on a case to begin with) Our registration service is similar to WGA registration, but we are not affiliated with the WGA. That said, registering your script with Screenplay Readers *and* WGA can strengthen your paper trail (chain of title) in the event you enter into any dispute or arbitration.
Does WGA screenplay registration guarantee my writing credit?
The WGA Registry states very clearly that WGA registration doesn’t generally help writers when determining writing credits when there’s a dispute of authorship, but it could help sort out a writer’s contribution to a project.
After I register my screenplay, will I have access to it?
After you upload your script, you may download your script or files at any time by (a) emailing us and (b) providing proof of your identity. We take our security very seriously. No documents will ever be released to anyone, unless not releasing them runs the risk of violating a court order.
If I enter into a dispute over my screenplay, will Screenplay Readers back me up?
Yes. We stand ready to deliver your proof of authorship and all requested screenplay files to you or your representatives, and testify remotely in an arbitration or court if necessary.
Should I mail myself a copy of my script?
This is referred to as “Poor Man’s Copyright,” and it’s not recommended, as it affords little or no protection or remedy in the event of a dispute.
How long is my script registration valid for?
Your screenplay registration is valid for 90 days for free and extendable to 5 years or 10 years from the date of registration depending on the duration of the term you purchase.
