[B5JMS] Attn JMS: I think we've got pirate scripts and want advice.

[b5jms-admin at cs.columbia.edu]

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From: Jen Espiniol <jenespiniol at cybergal.com>
Date: Thu, 21 Nov 2002 01:06:47 -0600
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Heya.

I went on eBay and sought a script. I bought one from Dave Gerrold, and
it's VERY interesting to see the original idea he had for "Believers" and
to see the end result (in the original, he wanted only one external shot;
a camera drawing back from the station, showing a POV from the child's
escaping spirit).

Inspired, a friend bought a different one (which one secret, to cover
myself). Long story short, he ended up receiving two copies, and after we
went over them, we're fairly certain they are just dupes for.. well,
dupes. There are a couple of written notes, but they are obviously copied.

I just want to know what I should do about this. I mean, firstly, this
script *is* one of yours. And we don't want to rip anyone off. (We may
feel the DMCA and the Mickey Mouse Protection Act are bad law, but
copyright is, generally, a Good Thing.)

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to commit the great crime of (gasp!)
watching the B5S1 DVD's on my Linux laptop. ;)

Thanks for any advice.

cya
jen



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From: jmsatb5 at aol.com (Jms at B5)
Date: 22 Nov 2002 23:06:41 GMT
Lines: 43

>Inspired, a friend bought a different one (which one secret, to cover
>myself). Long story short, he ended up receiving two copies, and after we
>went over them, we're fairly certain they are just dupes for.. well,
>dupes. There are a couple of written notes, but they are obviously copied.
>
>I just want to know what I should do about this. I mean, firstly, this
>script *is* one of yours. And we don't want to rip anyone off. (We may
>feel the DMCA and the Mickey Mouse Protection Act are bad law, but
>copyright is, generally, a Good Thing.)

Caveat Emptor.  Buyer beware.

Be advised that with very few exceptions, any script you buy online is going to
be a photocopy, possibly several generations down.  Only multicolored drafts
are actual production drafts.  So if you get an all white draft, or one where
the colors don't match the headers (REVISED BLUE 10/14/98, that sort of thing),
it ain't the real deal.

The ONLY scripts that one can sell legally are actual productoin scsripts used
in the shooting as memorabilia.  Anyone selling anything else is a pirate.  The
rights to the physical script belong to the writer, per the Writers Guild
Separation of Rights Provision.  

This is important because many writers receive income from selling their
scripts at convention (as with David and others), or by publishing them in book
form.  Mass copies sold by others, illegally, remove or seriously inhibit the
writer's ability to do either of those things.

>I just want to know what I should do about this. I mean, firstly, this
>script *is* one of yours. And we don't want to rip anyone off.

Too late.  You bought something illegally produced. Not much you *can* do.

 jms

(jmsatb5 at aol.com)
(all message content (c) 2002 by synthetic worlds, ltd., 
permission to reprint specifically denied to SFX Magazine 
and don't send me story ideas)