It is commonly said that you can't protect ideas.
UK law allows copyright to be established on creative works such as scripts, but establishing
copyright on programme ideas, formats, synopses etc can be more difficult.
The Alliance for the Protection of Copyright (APC) have produced a code of
practice for submission of programme proposals; the APC comprises The Writer's Guild, The
Directors' Guild, The Society of Authors, Women in Film and Television, NUJ, BECTU and several other professional organisations. As this code has been
agreed by BBC, ITV, C4, C5 and PACT (the association representing independent television, feature
film and animation production companies), it is likely that most companies you submit ideas to
will either be a signatory to the code, or will have been previously instructed with regard to its content.
The code sets out procedures in relation to the confidentiality and use of creative material and
has been set up to stop unscrupulous companies stealing ideas. The code suggests that idea
originators may wish to register their work with a registration or legal representative before
showing it to production companies, this registration can be extremely beneficial in the event of
a dispute.
Our Script registration Service can be used to register programme ideas,
formats, synopses, treatments, scene by scene breakdowns etc. We suggest that in order to give
your work greater protection you should develop your idea as fully and in as much detail as
possible; the more specific you can make it the better.
On the cover page of your document we would suggest you put the following:
(i) The word 'confidential'.
(ii) If you are a member of a professional body such as The Writers' Guild, BECTU or similar, you should
quote your membership number.
(iii) If you have registered your work at The Script Vault you should quote the registration number.
We would also suggest that the following statement might be useful:
This document is submitted in confidence and should not be shown or discussed with individuals
outside the organisation of the Receiver to whom it has been submitted without the prior consent
of the Originator.
In accordance with the Code of Practice agreed between the Alliance for the Protection of Copyright
(APC) and BBC, ITV Channel 4 and Channel 5, this document has been registered with The Script Vault
Ltd., a copyright registration and protection organisation - Registration No: (quote No). The Originator respectfully asks that the Receiver adheres to the procedures in the APC Code, a
copy of which is available at www.thescriptvault.com/apc-cofp. The APC Code relates to the
receipt and acknowledgement of creative material, and has been drawn up to encourage the confidence
of Originators and the free flow of material within the film and broadcasting sector of Britain's
creative industries. The APC comprises BECTU, The Writers' Guild, THe Directors' Guild, NUJ, Society
of Authors, Women in Film and Television, Musicians' Union and PACT.
While registering an idea does not protect copyright in the same way that a script registration
does, we believe that if the person you have submitted to is considering
stealing your idea, one glance at the above information may well give him or her second thoughts.
