Shayne-Michael.COMedy

Understanding The WGA - by Shayne Michael

The Writers Guild is not the copyright office. And registering your sitcom with the WGA will not give you the right to file a civil lawsuit if somebody steals it. To take that step you must fill out a registration with the US Copyright Office.

So what does the WGA do? Like any other business the WGA takes a fee and performs a service. If you're a WGA member registration for each document costs $10. If you are not it will cost you $20. Becoming a member will cost you a whooping $2,500. The WGA is similar to unions like SAG. Unless you have earned money as a writer at accepted WGA minimum's you're not qualifies to join the WGA anyway.

So, if the WGA doesn't use the money to register your work with the US Copyright Office, what are they doing with your money? Let's say you register your sitcom pilot with the WGA. That registration fee provides five years of evidence that you are the author of that material. It's no more than a time stamp given by the WGA so they can testify on your behalf if legal action ever occurs within that five years.

Where is the WGA weak? US copyright law protects you for 70 years. And, as mentioned earlier, you still need to register your copyright to file a civil lawsuit in the first place. Registering with the WGA will not give you the right to file a civil lawsuit for infringement.

What other purposes does the WGA serve? The WGA sets minimums for employment as a writer. These numbers equal the lowest you should ever be paid for writing a comedy script or skit. They will even tell you how much you should be paid for writing a recurring character on three episodes of Friaser. What are the WGA minimums? If you write a screen play in 2004 you should receive no less than $48,738 and no more than $91,495. You can find all the WGA's minimums listed here at the: WGA's official website.