Are you nervous because you're afraid someone will steal your underlying idea or even your script itself?

A writer recently contacted me via LinkedIn expressing concern about submitting a script to The Other Network Comedy Contest (or any contest). Here's my response:

You can create a paper trail and 'protect' your script by registering it with the Writer's Guild (it's not a copyright per se, but it establishes ownership on a certain date).

The underlying concept is actually less secure since you can't copyright an idea, just the 'specific expression of the idea'. That's why lawsuits usually focus on specific characters, scenes and story structure. There's really no way to totally protect an idea and still get your work seen. It's vaguely reassuring to submit your script through an agent, manager or lawyer if you have one, but still not much protection except against blatant theft - which is rare.

As the nervous writer said, "in order to get it out there you just gotta get it out there."

I can tell you that establishing a relationship with a talented writer is more valuable to someone in the business than co-opting one idea and burning a bridge. And you should be generating enough material so that you don't have to be overly precious and paranoid about any one script or idea. I can also tell you that our specific reader pool is small, we know them all personally and can vouch for their discretion and confidentiality. I can't vouch for any other contests.

Let me know if you have any other questions. We look forward to stealing... I mean 'seeing' your work.

btw, if you do decide to take the plunge and submit your script, you may want to take a look at our previous blog 8 Rewrite Notes for Any Comedy Script and do one more punchup rewrite on your script. I can tell you without even having read it that these notes will make it better.