I've been asked on a few occasions to provide ideas on a non-commissioned basis for production companies pitching to broadcasters. Factual docs, general entertainment as opposed to sitcom/ sketch shows. Has anyone experience of this and, if so, how did you go about 'protecting' the idea?
Did you sign a contract of any type?
Nope. Is that what you've done in the past? If so, how did you stipulate financial recompense (for a series commission/ selling to foreign territories etc) ?
You will need a tape recorder and chloroform. Next question? sorry, I can't be of any help
Quote: Simon B @ October 5 2011, 6:08 PM BSTHas anyone experience of this and, if so, how did you go about 'protecting' the idea?
You don't.
You realise that the 'industry' considers writers to be the lowest of the low and that you should consider yourself lucky if you get ripped-off as it at least meant that they liked what they read.
You might also consider that (assuming you are at the bottom of the ladder) sticking Copyright marks all over your work indicates that you are a bit too full of yourself and, perhaps more importantly, don't trust the people you have sent your stuff to have a look at to be professional enough not to steal it.
If they are genuine professionals they should be willing to sign some form of agreement whereby you grant them the right to try to sell your ideas on to other people (a sort of 'option-lite')
I doubt you'd get any money for this (sometimes a £1 is sited as a notional figure - the dollar option as it's known) but you would get an agreement that, should anything go forward, you are the recognized author and, for it to proceed further, that some sort of writer's contract needs to be drawn up.
Words like 'industry standard' and 'reasonable rates' tend to get bandied about at this point, but you don't need to worry about this until things start to happen.
Then get an agent.
An agreement as outlined above costs the producer nothing - and would only begin to do so when the thing takes off, in which case it'll be other people's money he'll be paying you with, so he won't care.
True, covering your work with copyright symbols is very amateur-hour.
Having a professional appoach and asking that your work be respected is not.
I agree with Jinky. If you have an email trail, you should be able to argue your corner in the unlikely event that people take your idea and get someone else that they clearly didn't think was capable of coming up with an idea to develop it.
If there's serious money on the table, get an agent involved, even if its only a one-off deal. They like opportunities to make money.
Quote: Simon B @ October 5 2011, 6:08 PM BSTI've been asked on a few occasions to provide ideas on a non-commissioned basis for production companies pitching to broadcasters. Factual docs, general entertainment as opposed to sitcom/ sketch shows. Has anyone experience of this and, if so, how did you go about 'protecting' the idea?
I used to do this, but I always tried to get (paid) development work out of it. There are some production companies that will give you a choice to sign your idea away for some cash money, or join their development team (either remote or actually in the office). However, others will pause for time, pitch your idea in secret and if they don't hear the right noises, they'll get back to you and say they're no longer interested.
I think it's more or less impossible to protect ideas though as companies will always brainstorm and build upon your idea so it morphs into something that's slightly different.
Quote: Splodge @ October 13 2011, 9:09 PM BSTHowever, others will pause for time, pitch your idea in secret and if they don't hear the right noises, they'll get back to you and say they're no longer interested.
I think it's more or less impossible to protect ideas though as companies will always brainstorm and build upon your idea so it morphs into something that's slightly different.
Absolutely.