NO IMPLIED CONTRACT
You agree that no obligation of any kind is assumed by ****** Productions or may be implied against ****** Productions by reason of you sending the Submission to ****** Productions and/or any review, report, discussions or negotiations ****** Productions may have or create concerning the Submission.
What is Protected and what are You Entitled To Compensation For?

You understand that ****** Productions may have in the past explored, may currently be in the process of exploring or may in the future explore programs and ideas generated by employees or other third parties that resemble the Submission. You understand that it is not uncommon for more than one individual or company to originate substantially similar ideas, independently. Given this understanding, you agree that you will not take any legal action against ****** Productions and you waive any right to bring a claim that ****** Productions misappropriated any ideas or portions of the Submission in any future ****** Productions programs or activities.

You acknowledge and agree that your entitlement to any compensation is subject to you and ****** Productions entering into a written contract (separate from this Agreement) signed by both parties related to the use by ****** Productions of the Submission. If ****** Productions uses the Submission, You understand that ****** Productions only has an obligation to get permission from You and to compensate You for those portions of the Submission that are communicated to ****** Productions in writing in sufficient detail that they are protected under copyright law or other intellectual property laws.

—-

Ok, so here is part of a fairly standard Submission release agreement. The first part is basically saying they can take your idea, develop it with someone else and you are not entitled to anything. The way around this is to register your complete idea with the WGA. No one ever signs away their right to litigation either.

The final part deals with writing in sufficient detail so that it is protected under copyright and intellectual proterty laws. This means the complete deal. Everything you have ever thought and written down about your show goes into this. It should be long and cover every possible angle, detail, etc, you can imagine.

A one paragraph about an idea cannot be copyrighted, but a well thought out, planned and detailed idea can. This is why I go on and on in the ebook about all the details, including the advertising, target audience, etc, etc. You simply have to know this stuff inside and out to have any chance.

If you are going to agree to something like this, make sure you have your full idea registered with the WGA and let them know that from the beginning — that you have a 100 page document registered with the WGA. They just assume (and in many cases are banking on) people are very unorganized, haven’t taken the time to develop their ideas in the first place and certainly haven’t taken the time to register them with the WGA.

Regards,
Matt

Reality TV Show Pitch