Registering copyright for film scripts

Competition in the film industry is increasingly fierce, leading to the risk of plagiarism and copying of film scripts becoming more and more common. Therefore, registering copyright for film scripts is extremely important to protect the rights of screenwriters, producers and businesses. In the article below, VCD will fully guide you on how to register copyright for film scripts.

Why register copyright for film scripts?

According to the provisions of the law on Intellectual Property, the author is established with the right to the film script from the moment the work is created and expressed in any material form. This right does not depend on the content, quality, form of expression, means of creation, language used, as well as whether or not the script has been published, has or has not been registered. Therefore, copyright registration is not a mandatory procedure for film scripts.

However, to ensure the maximum legal rights and interests of authors and owners, especially in cases of infringement such as copying, plagiarism, appropriation of ideas, it is necessary to carry out copyright registration procedures. Here are the reasons why you should register copyright for your film script that you need to know:

• Prove legal ownership in case of dispute: The copyright registration certificate is the strongest evidence proving that you are the owner of the script. If there is a dispute such as plagiarism, copying, or illegal use, the competent authority will give priority to the registered document.

• Protect the script from copying and stealing ideas: In the film industry, duplicate ideas or illegally modified scripts are no longer uncommon. Once copyright is registered, any act of reusing the script without consent can be handled according to Article 28 of the Intellectual Property Law.

• Increase credibility with partners, investors, and film studios: A copyrighted script demonstrates the author’s professionalism, helping you easily present your project to partners without worrying about your idea being “robbed”.

• Basis for commercialization, transfer, and licensing: Once ownership has been established, you can sell the script, transfer film rights, license use, and franchise derivatives.

What does a film script copyright registration file include?

According to Decree 17/2023/ND-CP, a complete set of copyright registration files will include:

• Copyright registration form: Application form according to the form of the Copyright Office, filled in with full information including author, copyright owner, script name, type of work, copyright commitment

• 02 copies of the film script: The script must be printed and bound. You can stamp the edges (if you are an organization) or sign each page (if you are an individual), the more detailed the script is, the easier it is to prove ownership.

• Documents proving ownership: If the author is also the owner, a CCCD/Passport is required. If the company is the owner, a contract for assigning work or transferring rights is required.

• Power of attorney (if authorizing a service unit)

• Documents proving the time of creation (if any): email exchanges, time-stamped manuscript files, creative diary.

Process for registering copyright for a film script

In order for the film script to be fully and legally protected, the author or owner must follow the copyright registration process according to regulations. Below are detailed steps to help you understand and easily implement this procedure.

Step 1: Complete the script and prepare the registration documents

The author or owner needs to prepare the film script in complete form and clearly present it on paper or file. At the same time, you need to prepare all the documents in the registration dossier such as: copyright registration declaration, copy of the script, guarantee letter, documents proving ownership… Careful preparation from the beginning will help minimize the need to supplement the dossier.

Step 2: Submit the dossier to the Copyright Office

After completion, the dossier is submitted directly to the Copyright Office, the representative offices of the Office or submitted by post. Upon receiving the dossier, the management agency will check the completeness, validity and record the date of submission. This is the basis for calculating the time limit for granting the certificate according to regulations.

Step 3: Appraisal of dossier and issuance of Certificate

The Copyright Office will review and appraise the contents of the dossier and compare it with legal regulations. If the application is valid, the agency will issue a Certificate of Copyright Registration for the film script. In case the application is incorrect or missing information, the Department will notify the applicant to supplement or edit before continuing the assessment.

Time to complete the registration of copyright for the film script

According to Article 52 of the Intellectual Property Law 2022, the time limit for issuing a Certificate of Copyright Registration is 15 working days from the date the Copyright Office receives a valid application. This is the time limit prescribed by law and is applied to all cases of copyright registration, including film scripts.

However, in reality, the processing time may be longer, usually 20-25 working days. The main reasons are:

• The dossier is missing or needs to be supplemented or edited according to the requirements of the Copyright Office.

• The number of dossiers submitted at peak times (end of the year, before major projects, etc.).

• The time for comparing and checking the originality of the work may take longer than expected.

• The process of sending dossiers (if submitted by post) may take a few more days.

The above is detailed information on copyright registration for film scripts. VCD hopes that this article has helped you understand the meaning of script protection and understand each step in the registration process, thereby proactively protecting your creative rights.

FQA

Sincerely,