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copyright So a major studio admitted to stealing my script...
- Thread starter PageBlaster
- Start date
I've dealt with HBO a few times... They're actually a pretty decent company with a few bad apples... Just like any other place. There's no way they would WANT to be trashed through media for any kind of theft when it comes to material. Even if they were complicit? It would be difficult to believe they knew they were complicit since they have more than enough money to pay for a concept or script. Having said that? It would take an Entertainment Attorney to GET THEIR ATTENTION.
Yes, I'm not sure about his first mistake and the gifting of the screenplay (I'm not up on that), but the second mistake was emailing without representation. However that is not irreversible, just get your attorney and the case going if it has merit.
Not quite UP on that either as per the explanation in the thread. I do know however, your Entertainment Attorney could easily get a few expert witnesses (if it actually went to court) to prove that ONE of the ACCEPTED methods of selling a screenplay is via email query. A good Entertainment Attorney could even STRETCH that to sending the script as an attachment without having been asked to read the script as a method for marketing a script.
Anyone who knows and understands this business also knows and understands that there is NO ONE WAY to sell your material. That's why most producers, agents, and managers won't accept unsolicited screenplays. The IDEA is to query and get asked to READ the script which turns your unsolicited script into a solicited script.
That's where I'm a bit hazy here... There's obviously no way anyone could have lifted your dialogue unless you sent the script. So did you send the script out WITH the QUERY or after they said they were interested? If you've got a registered copyright like you say? And they lifted dialogue? Seriously...
They are screwed.
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Sorry about the details. I fired it off like an idiot to any email address I could find (that didn't explicitly state to not send unsolicited)
I was quoted starting 75k retainer. I dont have that kind of scrill kicking around, sothe big man wins
Yes. 75k starting retainer (least expensive offer) to lawyer up vs. Warner, for a suit where there are holes in the case, despite me being 100% correct in my direction
I don't think I have a great case in the legal sense. Morally, I know I'm right. I could have chased this but I chose not to pursue it at that level, though I will send the letters you and others have mentioned and see if that will light any fire. I am a writer on some major platforms online and they probably wouldn't want this to get passed around, strong case or not
I did. Sent copies of the dialogue to attorneys who then watched the episode. It doesn't matter I guess, or it isn't strong enough for them to go after WB. Yes, I was incredulous
Try this guy. He has gone after WB before. He may want to finally nail them.
www.gerardfoxlaw.com
www.nytimes.com
Gerard P. Fox, Esq. | Gerard Fox Law
www.gerardfoxlaw.com
Suit Filed Against Warner Bros. in Screenplay Theft (Published 2013)
A lawsuit accuses Warner Brothers of stealing the screenplay of its 2012 movie “Trouble With the Curve” and of manufacturing evidence in their defense.
Good stuff. Emailed him. Thanks a millTry this guy. He has gone after WB before. He may want to finally nail them.
Gerard P. Fox, Esq. | Gerard Fox Law
Suit Filed Against Warner Bros. in Screenplay Theft (Published 2013)
A lawsuit accuses Warner Brothers of stealing the screenplay of its 2012 movie “Trouble With the Curve” and of manufacturing evidence in their defense.
Another thing you can try if you can't afford an attorney is to find some legal services online where an attorney will write letters on your behalf for a much smaller fee. Coming from an attorney is going to require ANY STUDIO to forward the letter on up to their legal department. Until an actual attorney contacts these entities, they are just going to ignore you. That's standard operating procedure.
*EDIT: There are services like LetterDash that can do this for you on the cheap.
*EDIT: There are services like LetterDash that can do this for you on the cheap.
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Good stuff, but for something potentially large, I would pay for the letter from a powerhouse. Thanks though!
Are you saying $75,000 or $7,500 up front? If they say $75,000 up front, they may be trying to get rid of you.
Well no, 75k retainer isn't insane for something like this. I shopped around, it's a going rate because it would require significant firepower
Hi ,Well yeah, but I'm pretty sure you're wrong with your assumptions about what I wanted. Obviously the discussion was a stepping stone to a bargaining table. I didn't just want a friendly chat and that's it. You came out of the gate pretty hot for some reason. Of course I emailed them and wanted to talk. In the interest of time and money it was my hope they would have just said ok fine, shut up. Here's a writing credit and 10k. That'd be cool. I'm not greedy, I just want recognition where it's due. SO I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY WHAT I WANT EXCEPT A CREDIT
You remind me about one story I read long long ago, a writer wrote script and send it to agent who sold it to big studio and told the writer you didn’t clarify that your want to sell it!!! That writer made them payed him a lot with simple trick. He went to his friend and told him you own my script copyrights coz you wrote it not me
and my name is your pen name, so go and sue them. The studio told him we got your email. The writer friend told them I don’t send any email and how the fucck trust any email. Finally they payed the writer friend 34 millions.Fiction, right?Hi ,
You remind me about one story I read long long ago, a writer wrote script and send it to agent who sold it to big studio and told the writer you didn’t clarify that your want to sell it!!! That writer made them payed him a lot with simple trick. He went to his friend and told him you own my script copyrights coz you wrote it not me