It is very important to protect your work as soon as it has been completed. Here are a few steps you can do to protect your script: Register your work with either the WGA West, WGA East (Writers Guild of America) the WGC (Writers Guild of Canada) or, with a Copyright Canada or US Copyright. It’s unlikely a company will do this, but if possible, have a company sign a non-disclosure form (information on Google) before you submit your work to them.
An Intellectual Property (IP) lawyer could also be useful. For the most part though they will tell you to get a Copyright. If you can work out a deal where you send them your work so that it is “safe” with them, then kudos to you.
Another less sophisticated method is to send your work to yourself through the mail system. Make sure it stays sealed. It will have the date you sent the script to yourself, proof that your work has been written by you. Please don’t count on this method as a tried and true one. It is merely another method to use in addition to the others (Copyright, WGA, WGC, IP lawyer). The more secure you can make your work, the better off you will be in the long run.
If you are lucky to have your script optioned or bought outright you will need an entertainment lawyer, and an agent to help with your agreement.
The 2010 Guide to Literary Agents is one of the books you can use on “where and how to find the right agents to represent your work”.
Another book you might want to consider using is the 2002-2003 Writer’s Guide to Hollywood Producers Directors and Screenwriter’s Agents. This book has “Hundreds of Insider Tips from Hollywood Veterans”.
Good luck and “May the Force be with you”!
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