Creativity and Copyright: Legal Essentials for Screenwriters and Creative Artists

by John L. Geiger, Howard Suber

What they won't teach you in film  This expertly written reference guide breaks down copyright laws for screenwriters.

Inspired by Strunk & White's  The Elements of Style,  this elegant, short reference is the perfect guide for screenwriters and creative artists looking to succeed as industry professionals. Readers will quickly understand the laws that govern creativity, idea-making, and selling, and learn how to protect themselves and their works from the legal quagmires they may encounter. Written by an unrivaled pair of experts, John L. Geiger and Howard Suber, who use real-life case studies to cover topics such as clearance, contracts, collaboration, and infringement,  Creativity and Copyright  is poised to become an indispensable resource for beginners and experts alike.

Genres: Writing

216 pages, Paperback

Published July 16, 2019

Reviews

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Creativity and Copyright is a tightly written, streamlined book that will tell you most of what you need to know about current copyright law, and some contract law pertaining to writers. The book is slanted towards screenwriters, but I think that anyone working in the creative arts would benefit from reading it. It takes the mysteries out of what can be confusing issues and goes straight to the business of telling you how to protect yourself. Well written and highly recommended.

[Pintobuns]

I had this on my shelf for a while. I remembered how I bullshitted Stell’s last hw assignment for her copyright class and was like... maybe I could know more than just BS about copyright lol. And well now.... I know more than just BS! I can BS even better hehehhe 🙃

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

John Geiger is a trial lawyer with a film degree. Howard Suber is a film historian who has often appeared as an expert witness in film industry copyright and breach of contract cases. Suber’s testimony has never been successfully challenged. His most famous case was Art Buchwald’s suit against Paramount for breach of contract in the production of Coming to America, in which only the lawyers made a profit. In Creativity and Copyright, they have created a small handbook on copyright aimed at beginning screenwriters and filmmakers. One of the publisher’s blurbs aptly compares its clarity and concision to The Elements of Style by Strunk and White.
The authors stress that fewer things are protected by copyright than one might think but that some things not protected under federal copyright law might be protected under state contract law. Thus, many copyright cases also involve contract disputes.
The authors also spend a good deal of time talking about collaboration. If you are working with a collaborator, creating a formal collaboration agreement early in the process is a very good idea.
Geiger and Suber also note that a 1956 Supreme Court case involving idea theft is why “producers and production companies have adopted the policy of not accepting unsolicited material from people not represented by agents and lawyers.” Yes, lawyers win again.
Informative and readable.

[David Culver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Creativity and Copyright is an apt title. Novelists, playwrights, screenwriters, song writers and others for whom the written language is the chosen medium - but whose confusion about intellectual property rights is choking their voice or making them tentative about publishing their work - will be encouraged by this book. The authors tell the reader what not to worry about, and precisely explain how to manage the things that do require attention. Through the use of graphics, examples, anecdotes, and a fair amount of wit, the authors successfully present arcane legal concepts in a manner that laypersons can easily process and apply. Both Geiger and Suber possess an impressive CV that inspires confidence in their credibility as subject matter experts, and for delivering such a serious tool worthy of a permanent place on every creative person’s desk, Creativity and Copyright is quite a fun and entertaining read. I look forward to the movie.

[Nathan Gillin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book for current and aspiring (screen)writers, full of engaging legal discussion and good-to-know material, juuuust in case you have to deal with copyright infringers. Also includes important info on what to do once the script is written.

[Louie Navarro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read, very informative.

[Roberto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Both Howard Suber and John Geiger are highly respected in the world of film and copyright issues. I highly recommend this insightful book.

[Mary Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good overview, could be used as reference, but knew much of the info.

[Nathan Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

An ideal book for screenwriters on a subject most writers would prefer not to think about. Explained in a simple and easy to digest manner - a must have in every writer’s library.