Idea Theft

This recent New York Times article on stolen story ideas is a must-read for writers.  Idea theft probably happens less than we imagine -- but more than we'd like to believe. Writers, protect yourselves! Even though ideas don't fall under federal copyright protection, there are a few things you can do to minimize your exposure.

1. Register your script with the US Copyright Office and the Writers Guild of America (WGA) . 

2. Confirm all  appointments and all communications in writing. For example, if you met a producer at a party and she asked for a meeting, send a follow-up email: "Dear Ms. Producer, I enjoyed meeting you at Bob's party last night. I look forward to talking more about my teen comedy project next Friday at 2:00 at your office."

3. Don't give away too many details about your project. Entertainment lawyer and consultant Judith Merians says, "you can send out pitch letters without giving away the story. Just give a generic description (e.g. a teenager discovers her mother's past and is convinced what she thought was true is a lie)."

4. Create a leave-behind at the meeting. This can be a one-page about your project.

5. Follow up in writing after the meeting. Include all pertinent details. Mention the leave-behind.

6. If there's no interest in your project, ask for ALL of your materials to be returned to you. Do this in writing. Confirm the receipt of your materials in writing.

7. Be selective of who you pitch to. Try to find out a little bit about each person seeing your script. Be careful not to give away too many details too soon.

8. Establish a clear business relationship. If vague promises are made, make sure to follow up in writing ASAP  confirming the agreement as you understood it.

9. PRINT OUT EVERY E-MAIL! 

In short, make sure to keep a paper trail of all communications. This may not prevent someone from stealing your idea, but it will help you prove your case in court. 

Good luck in the trenches!