Entertainment - copyright / Intellectual Property?

Question

If I commission a writer to write a script based on my idea, story and characters, who does copyright lie with?

Answer 1

If you commission a writer, (pay them to write) the work is yours. They still have writing credit but you own the right to market, publish, sell, and collect royalties and fees for that work.
You could be co-holders of the copyright if you both agree.
If the writer files with the U.S. copyright office to register the work, you will need an attorney to prove any claim. The most important part is the record of your collaboration. Document any meetings or discussions on the project with date and if possible, both sign these documents, that will suffice as copyright information. Mailing an document to yourself is only a means of keeping a time-line record and will not necessarily protect your rights. Registering the work is the only way to guarantee your rights should a legal challenge come up.

In any case, a contract is probably a good idea.

© pat from ohio 2007

Answer 2

Copyright automatically goes to the person that puts it in fixed form. You need to have a "work for hire" contract with your "ghost" writer or he/she will walk off with all the goodies. Ideas by themself are not protected, so remember that before telling anyone about them without a signed agreement.

A person with no creative talent can "commission" an art work, so unless otherwise agreed, the copyright goes to the artist, writer, composer...that generates the product.

On re-reading this, i am struck that this person is not just a steno that takes down your story and checks for spelling and facts. If that's the case, a "work for hire" contract does not really do the job. You have to prove you are the source of original composition. The only way to do that is to write it yourself, no matter how poor or akward, the story. With that completed, you have a copyright. Then you can hire someone to be a technician to make it suitable for print. He is by definition creating a derivitive product no matter how much improved, so the rights remain squarely with you, the original author.

Otherwise if the ghost writer were to do the work which includes mostly his writing, and then if he were fired (say for sleeping with your wife), then the contract is broken and he could claim his rights. The forward on "his" new novel could say "based on an idea given me by my wife's first husband". And he could write sequels as well.

Put your ideas in writing yourself as much as possible first.

Answer 3

I believe the copyright lies with you as long as the person who writes the script has signed a "work for hire" agreement, or something in writing where the actual writer is acknowledging your ownership of the work.

Answer 4

The idea was yours and the writer was hired by you so generally the "intellectual" property is yours. To protect yourself write out the idea and mail it to yourself. DO NOT open the letter. The post mark on the letter is proof that you had the idea first, providing the manuscript has not been writen already.

Answer 5

If you paid them to do it, I believe you can register the copyright. I would contract it though so that who owned what was clearly spelled out. I would also make sure that I kept proof of every cent paid to the writer.

Answer 6

It would depend on actual content.
What percentage is actually your input of contents and the writers. In this case you would share the rolyalties if any arose from such a writing as a varied percentage share.

Answer 7

How long will food keep?
Some foods last longer than others.
A whole roast will keep for up to a week in the refrigerator, while ground beef must be used within a day or two.

Meats should be removed from the store packages and rewrapped as soon as you get them home.

If you want to freeze hamburger, form it into patties and use plastic coffee can lids to separate them. Wrap the whole stack in plastic and freeze.

Berries will often turn to mush if you just put them in the freezer. Instead, spread them out on a cookie sheet to freeze, then transfer them to plastic bags.

In the refrigerator, tomatoes will stay fresh longer if you set them stem-side down.

Cottage cheese is also best stored upside-down in the refrigerator. To keep bread fresh longer, put a rib of celery in the bag.

Lettuce and celery stay fresh longer in paper bags than in plastic.

A pinch of salt in a gallon of milk will keep it fresh past its expiration date.

You can sometimes even bring foods that are past their prime back to life.

Limp lettuce and celery may become crisp again if you soak them in ice water with a few drops of vinegar for an hour or so.