I am a lawyer (so let me add to what Alice said and also agree with John.

Under U.S. copyright law you wouldn’t have a leg to stand on, reams of paper documenting what you did versus what your boss did versus what the screenwriter did notwithstanding. The copyright for any work you do as an employee belongs to your employer unless you have specifically contracted otherwise. Also, as Alice said, copyright doesn’t protect ideas, it protects the “expression” of the idea, which resides not in the treatment but in the screenplay and finished film (each of which are copyrightable works).

Another way to look at this: Building a career isn’t about getting credit for everything you do. It’s about getting to the place where you can get credit. Sounds like you want to be a writer but you have a day job working for a producer, which gives you a great opportunity to learn about story and the reality of making movies. The work your boss asked you to do (and the extra mile that you went) gave you a chance to hone your skills at a time when you’re not yet being hired to write. That’s a great position to be in. Your boss gave you the opportunity to learn and a vote of confidence to boot. By being willing to be of service to her, you may have built a relationship that will serve you later, and at the very least you racked up some good karma points. Sometimes it’s not about what you get but what you give. You’ll get yours in due time.

P.S. NYC/carribean ragazza — Since I need to get back to my own writing, I’ll say it here rather than going to your site. Congratulations!

I can barely speak English, but that hasn’t stopped me.

I just sold a treatment to an Italian company. The company will show the treatment to an Italian screenwriter who will write it (I can barely speak Italian so clearly I cannot write the script).

The idea was my own, I pitched to the company and then my lawyer spoke to them about the details.

If Marley wants to be a writer….she should go and write.

For all you might know your Producer may have done this already at home, thought about it more in detail on the Tube, then called you in to take notes, whilst she pitched. This original idea was your Producer’s (hard as that might be to accept) and she got you to write it down. Producers are the talent when it comes to getting the film financed, keeping check on the figures, getting the production off the ground, they are business people who like the Arts, but aren’t inclined/talented to write the thing themself (exceptions to every rule) – which is where you come in. And the Screenwriter they hire. If I was that screenwriter, I’d want the bare bones to begin with and take out all the ‘noise’. Like Dave said.

Sadly, Marley, you got far too enthusiastic in your job (we’ve all done that) and added your own stuff, which might have been better kept in your own notebook until you had the time or inclination to put them into a treatment of your own and write the script.

To conclude, I know you must feel absolutely gutted and rightly naffed (for want of a polite word) off, but take this one as experience and let it go. It’s only a treatment – not a script. Next time, just write what the Boss tells you and check the apostrophes are in the right places. You want your name on something that you’re prepared to spend hours slaving over, write a script of your own. Submit that – you’re already ahead of us unsolicited types that get a 10 page read before being shredded (and that’s if we’re lucky). You have Producers to show your work to in their coffee break. Don’t waste your opportunity. There’s evidently a Writer in you somewhere.

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How much input to the story would warrant a “Story By” credit?

Since I’m planning to make this myself as my first feature, it is unlikely to make any money. In addition the screenwriters I know haven’t had anything major produced. With that in mind, what’s a realistic amount to pay such a writer?

Thanks for writing an intriguing blog.

Peace,

Rob:-]

I really don’t think it comes near the realm of plagarism, though. Sounds like Marley went a step or two above and beyond in the hope that her boss might say, “These are such great ideas, which hadn’t been mined before, that we’re promoting you to producer/screenwriter on this project and a 3-picture deal afterwards…” Instead, there was a pat on the back, the producer’s name slapped on it and it was sent out. The fact that she decided to add her own ideas outside of her boss’ instructions isn’t really plagarism, it’s just an empty gesture.