My idea stolen by Sci-Fi Channel.

Yes, I did send it to Sci-Fi prior to 1995.

Even if you did submit the idea to Sci-Fi, it does not necessarily mean that it was co-opted. Parallel development of ideas does occur. For example, Scott
Adams of Dilbert Fame claims to have independently developed the idea of integrating a bar and laundrymat, but then, without him conveying the idea to anyone, found that someone else had the same idea and developed it into a business.

liquidthalassa wrote:
> But I *Seriously* doubt they "stole" your idea.
> they're not going to get into copyright infringement and what ever else. No way.

Are you kidding? Television is notoriously known as the rip-off realm. Ever watch an episode of Quantum Leap and not think that every other script was a rip off of some movie?

The minute someone makes a 'hit' show you see dozens of copy-cat versions on other networks next season.

Fact is: they steal ideas and concepts all the time.


The reality is that you can't copyright a title nor an idea. You can copyright a plan, a treatment, a script etc.. it has to be tangible. But simply an idea or a tile cannot be copyrighted.

It would be very easy for him to prove to everyone if his idea was stolen. All he needs to do is put up a link with his script and everyone can compare how he developed this idea with what was produced.


And if still don't think that ideas can be stolen, just look up the case of HarLan Ellison versus James Cameron for stealing the idea from Terminator from Harlan's old 'outer Limits' television episode: soldier.

Harlan Ellison won and not only did they have to pay him, they had to change the titles of the film to give him credit. (you can even check it on IMDB.com) :)

Ideas forming in parallel like this seem to happen all the time.

I think it's proof that humanity has a shared collective unconscious...




--- The afformentioned hypothesis is the intellectual property of Cinemaverick. Use without permission is strictly prohibbited.

Jeez, everybody back off.

Yes convergent evolution happens all the time, in the the real worlds of biology, tech development (Tesla, Marconi, and the USN aside), and plot ideas.

I have had many a plot idea appear in my head, but being inherently lazy, never developed them beyond 3x5 cards.

In a couple of books I read entire scenes, just like some I had plotted but had never described to anyone, and complained to a friend.

He said:
"What're complaining about?
It just proves that there is a collective unconcious."

I think he's right.
I also think that without backing one should keep one's ideas to one's self.

nammage wrote:

> But the main thing is to have the TITLE and your work COPYRIGHTED and thus if they 'steal'
> it you can sue.


The worst he can do is listen to someone such as you who has no clue about the law and the copyright act. You can't copyright a title. If someone steals your title and you try and sue them you won't win. Plain & simple.


I hope you don't distribute medical advice the same way you do with legal advise. Maybe you should stick to what you actually DO know.

nammage:

As a published writer of novels and freelance work, I can tell you with unequivocal truth that what you are suggesting does not go over in a court of law. There are theories about mailing your manuscript to yourself and not opening it as a way to protect your rights to written material without ever having to pay for a copyright. It doesn't work that way.

The ONLY way to protect your work is to write it all down in a manuscript/screenplay/etc... format and then pay the fees required, make the required copies, and follow the other guidelines according to the copyright office in Washington DC. Then, you have to take the time to send the material into their office and wait for your copyright letter containing the certification. Again, this is the ONLY way to hold onto any rights to any material written by you.

Of course, if you get into a tussle with a corporate movie studio, other novelist, or anyone else who stole your work, then you have to hire an attorney and have that attorney not only receive your work where you retained a copy but also have that attorney request a copy of your work from the Library of Congress' copyright office. It can add up to huge expensive fees but if the work is enough alike that a judge can say without a doubt your work is stolen, you will receive benefits and damages. Otherwise, you are wasting your time.

I went about it the easy way. I copyright my work and in addition to this, I have an attorney go over any contracts, including my copyright certification, to ensure it is up to date with whatever I would need in case of theft from another party or organization.

It is an important part of the procedure. Follow procedure and you stand half a chance to fight back. Do not follow procedure and risk losing your work as well as a possible huge sum of money. It only takes one piece, one written piece to put you on the map. It's hard to get there but if you ever make it you certainly want to be sure all previous works have protection because then they have a second shot at life at a later time after the first piece makes it to the hands of a decent publisher, agent, or production agency.

PaisleyPlace

Why are you guys even debating this? It's fairly obvious that he was lying in the first place...