How to Register Copyright on a Screenplay Online



HOW TO REGISTER COPYRIGHT ON A SCREENPLAY ONLINE
by Sue Basko, esq.

A filmmaker just asked me how to register copyright on his original, creative screenplay. The easiest way to do that is online at the U.S. Electronic Copyright Office.

You can register copyright on your screenplay online for $35. You need to have your screenplay in an acceptable file and you need $35 on a debit or credit card. Also, have a pen and paper handy. The entire process will take you about 15 or 20 minutes total. You will get an email receipt of your registration. In about 4 or 5 months or sometimes much earlier, you will receive a certificate of copyright registration.

If you are a serious screenwriter today, you will have your screenplay in a computer file format. In the olden days before computers, a person would type a screenplay and it would exist only on paper.

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You need your screenplay in one of these files, because these are the types of text files that the Electronic Copyright Office accepts:

.doc (Microsoft Word Document)*
.docx (Microsoft Word Open XML Document)*
.htm, .html (HyperText Markup Language)
.pdf (Portable Document Format)
.rtf (Rich Text Document)
.txt (Text File)
.wpd (WordPerfect Document)
.wps (Microsoft Works Word Processor Document)**

* For Microsoft Office files, please use version 2003 or earlier.
** For Microsoft Works files, please use version 9 or earlier.
The Electronic Copyright Office is available 24 hours a day, except for routine maintenance every Sunday from 12:00 midnight to 6:00 AM Eastern Time.

HOW TO ACTUALLY DO THE REGISTRATION:

1. Go online to the electronic copyright office. http://www.copyright.gov/

2. On the right hand side there, click on Eco Log-in. That takes you to other pages and eventually you should end out at this page: https://eco.copyright.gov/eService_enu/start.swen
Notice the tiny blue writing to the left where it says If You Are A New User, Click to Register -- click there to register yourself.

3. Register yourself. You have to make up a user name of 8 letters and up and a password. The password has to follow a whole list of rules. You can see those by clicking on the blue Password Help on the side of the blank.

4. Register and upload your screenplay.

5. Use your debit or credit card to pay the $35 fee.

6. You will get an email receipt.

7. In a few months, you will get a certificate.

Please email me to let me know if this works for you. SueBaskoMusic@gmail.com

IF YOU WANT FREE SOFTWARE for writing your screenplay, follow the link to Celtx on this post:

FREE SCREENWRITING SOFTWARE DOWNLOAD - CELTX


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