How to Copyright a Documentary Proposal Before Pitching

[swangbreal]

I am in the process of pitching my documentary proposal to investors and production companies. I know I need to copyright my proposal before sending it off. However, after looking at the copyright.gov website, I wasn't sure if I should copyright or just pre-register the idea, since it is in the pre-production phase, only.

 

[MarkG]

Technically it's copyrighted the moment you write it, though copyrighting it officially at the copyright office does give you more backup. For America people normally register scripts with the WGA, I'm not sure what they normally do with proposals; the documentary makers I know in the UK just send them out, but they have their own production companies and are just looking for finance.

 

[filmmakerstower.com]

Your creation is copyrighted from the moment you put it in some form.

But the film idea is not protected. For more details, go to:


and also


I hope this helps...

 

[swangbreal]

thanks

thanks

Thank you Mark G and Filmmakers tower... both of your replies were very helpful.