Here's
a very simple standard writer's release form - no legal advice
or claims are intended or implied. The last time I was asked for a script,
they sent along the submission agreement from a well-known stationery
shop on Hollywood Boulevard, so I just typed it up, below. You can use
the method at WPWin 6.1 Tips to
copy and modify the text in your word processing program.
[Webmaster: Alan C. Baird]
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SUBMISSION
AGREEMENT
Dated: ___________
Submission
Address
__________________
__________________
__________________
Dear
Sir/Madam:
I am submitting to you herewith certain
material (the "Material") described as follows:
One
theatrical screenplay, __ pages, "___Title___"
Summary
of Theme and Plot: ______________
Principal
Characters: ____________________
WGA
Registration No. _________
I request that you read and
evaluate the Material, and you hereby agree to do so.
I
warrant that I am sole owner and author of the Material and that I have
full right and authorization to submit same to you upon all of the terms
and conditions stated herein. I will indemnify you from any and all claims
that may be made against you at any time by any person, firm, or
corporation in connection with the Material or any use thereof.
I
agree that any part of the Material which is not novel or is not original,
or is not legally protectible under the law of literary property, may
be used by you without any liability to me, and that nothing in this
agreement shall be deemed to place you in any different position
than anybody else with respect to the Material by reason of my
submission or your use thereof.
I
realize that you have access to and/or may create or have created
literary materials and ideas which may be similar or identical to the
Material in theme, plot, idea, format, or other respects. I understand
that I will not be entitled to any compensation because of the use by
you of any such similar or identical material.
You
agree that if you use the Material and provided the Material is novel
or original or protectible under the law of literary property, and has
not been obtained by you from another source, you will pay me the
reasonable value thereof. If we are unable to agree as to the reasonable
value, the amount will be conclusively determined by a panel of three
arbitrators, one to be selected by each of us and they to select a third,
all of whom shall be persons well acquainted with the entertainment
industry. Such arbitration shall be conducted under the rules of the
American Arbitration Association, except as may be otherwise herein
provided. You agree that you will appoint an arbitrator within 30 days
after you have received written notice of my claim and I shall do the
same. The arbitrators' decision shall be controlled by the terms of this
agreement, and I agree that the amount of any award by said
arbitrators may not exceed US$1,000,000.
I
agree that any claim arising in connection with the subject matter of
this agreement must be brought within six months after your first use
of the Material and that the provisions of the preceding paragraph
shall apply to all such claims; provided, however, that notwithstanding
the foregoing, no breach of this agreement by you or failure by you to
perform the terms hereof ("Breach"), which Breach would otherwise
be deemed a material breach of this agreement, shall be considered
a material breach of this agreement unless within ten days after I
acquire knowledge of such Breach, or of facts sufficient to put me
upon any notice of such Breach, I serve written notice upon you of
such Breach and you do not cure said Breach within a further period
of ten days after receipt by you of said written notice.
I
have retained a copy of the Material and I release you from liability
for loss or other damage to same. I have also retained a copy of this
executed agreement.
I
execute this agreement with the express understanding that you
agree to read and evaluate the Material in express reliance upon
my agreements and warranties herein. This is the sole agreement
between us and there is no other agreement expressed or implied
with respect to the subject matter of this agreement.
I
understand that whenever the word "you" or "your" is used above, it
refers to (1) you, (2) any company affiliated with you by way of common
stock ownership or otherwise, (3) your subsidiaries, (4) subsidiaries
of such affiliated companies and (5) your officers, agents, servants,
employees, stockholders and clients, as well as the officers, agents,
servants, employees, stockholders and clients of all such affiliated
and subsidiary companies.
I
have described the Material above. I hereby warrant that all of the
important elements of the Material have been stated above, and I
claim no rights whatsoever in any other elements of the Material
which are not so described.
Very truly
yours,
______________________________
Signature
Writer's
Name
Address
Telephone
eMail