Stealing ideas Page 2

Wasn't there another case recently of Simon Nye taking over a project that had originally been conceived and scripted by other writers?

Quote: Mike Dan-Carter @ October 14 2008, 4:08 PM BST

'no smoke without fire' springs to mind, but who knows?!

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It's always a bit dodgy to convict someone by soundbite. Especially if you've never been to a nightclub and seen a smoke machine in action.

Quote: Timbo @ October 14 2008, 4:16 PM BST

Wasn't there another case recently of Simon Nye taking over a project that had originally been conceived and scripted by other writers?

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Do you mean "Adam's Family," by "Roman Empire's," Harry & Jack Williams?

Quote: hotzappa11 @ October 14 2008, 5:06 PM BST

Do you mean "Adam's Family," by "Roman Empire's," Harry & Jack Williams?

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Yep, that's the one. Simon struggling for ideas is he?

I know this goes on quite a lot, and if you're a new writer with a particular style does that mean someone could criticise the new writer of stealing work?

I was told at a lecture that putting copyright documents on your screenplays when sending them just makes it more likely to go in the bin as you run the risk of looking like a 'paranoid novice'.

I think that criticism is a bit unfair considering that all established programs are free to claim copyright whenever they want on all things to do with their production. If they can claim copyright; so should the writer be able to. What do other people think?

I hope that they don't call the writers who state 'copyright' paranoid as a way to nick ideas without fear of legal action.

Since you automatically own copyright on anything you write, and production companies and broadcasters KNOW that, you gain nothing by typing (c)2008 All Mine on a script.

There's really nothing you can do about people stealing "ideas", as similar ideas float into the heads of many people at a time. If someone plagiarises actual chunks of dialogue or steals scenes wholesale that's a different matter, and I guess one can talk to a lawyer about it.

I don't know what a (c) in a circle actually does, except act as a warning to people who don't know anything about copyright that they shouldn't redistribute it. Is that what it's for?

I think it's just to let people know that it is registered with the writer's guild or with a copyright agency.

Quote: James Turner @ October 14 2008, 7:16 PM BST

I think it's just to let people know that it is registered with the writer's guild or with a copyright agency.

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I'm sure most people who put (c) don't have it registered anywhere.

Hi James

Thank you for posting a few more details about your story. Are you in anyway compromising your position by posting on public forums about this case? Anyway, thanks for sharing your experience...

Quote: Splodge @ October 14 2008, 3:03 PM BST

Six or seven months later I turned on the TV and there was my idea, by the same production company but tweaked just enough so I couldn't do anything about it. I think lifting, stealing and copying is more prevalent in production companies specialising in Features and Factual Entertainment, and the ethics are different and shall we say, purer, in Comedy.

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Splodge, that's not a very realistic length of time in which to steal and idea, write it, rewrite it, do read-throughs, pitch it, get it commissioned, cast it and get it made is it. Do you think they might have already had it in the bag?

Anyway,

Jim, good luck.

Quote: hotzappa11 @ October 14 2008, 5:06 PM BST

by "Roman Empire's," Harry & Jack Williams?

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Ironically, Roman's Empire seemed to be a slavish copy of Arrested Development (albeit without any laughs whatsoever).

Thanks for the clarification, James - I was only speculating, as I didn't know the details.

Sounds like you have a good case, if the BBC has breached the terms of the contract you signed in 2006. Surely if the idea had originated with the producer the contract would have made that clear...?

If a TV company get a good idea, why not just pay the writing who came up with it to come up with some more rather than giving it to someone else.

If a prod co like something, they'll get you in - they won't give it to antoher writing to steal.

Quote: James Miller @ October 16 2008, 6:48 PM BST

I suppose there's always a first time, Dolly, but so far in life I've not found telling the bald truth has ever compromised me much. And I've been around a while.

If the Writer's Guild advised me to keep schtoom then obviously I'd do so; but they haven't as yet.
Jim

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I hope it's all sorted soon.