Hey, Anyone have any ideas for possible Seinfeld episodes? I always thought that Kramer getting a computer and discovering chating would make a great show. Or a show that involved some sort fo Fishing trip. ???? Sound stupid? Any ideas floating around out there??
John
[email] wrote:
This is interesting. I visited the Frazier group today for the first time and found out that they don't "allow" discussions of possible script ideas! That sure surprised me, since I see it all the time in this group. Apparently it's a violation of Frazierquette! In fact, I commented there that they should see the major re-write of the Seinfeld season finale that's been going on here for a month. _______________________________________________________________ Debbie ([email]) Dallas,TX
[email] (Deborah A. Currie) wrote:
What has been going on in this group is not script writing, but the proposal of alternative story lines to an episode that already aired. That's quite a bit different than submitting full blown scripts of original ideas complete with dialogue. To say that they should kill off Jerry's fiance in the season premeire or that they should make Susan's death a dream does not cause any legal problems because those ideas are relatively easy to come up with independently. The problem arises when those ideas are accompanied by specific dialogue and scene descriptions.
The reason that alt.tv.frasier and many other alt.tv.* groups frown on posting scripts has to do with a legal issue. Many of these groups have TV insiders lurking and sometimes posting to the group. If these insiders happen to see a script that is similar to one they are already working on, they are legally obliged to trash there script and start over. The reason for this is that the networks do not want even the slightest possibility that they could be sued for using someone else's material, which is considered published if it appears in the newsgroup. Both of these alternatives can be fairly costly for the networks, so if people start posting scripts to a TV newsgroup, the insiders will just quit reading that group. That is also why any unsolicited scripts they receive in the mail that have not been submitted through an agent are returned, unopened.
This is fairly common in several TV newsgroups and there are many TV insiders including writers, producers, and promo editors that lurk and post in those groups. If, as you say, the Frasier group doesn't allow the discussion of possible plots, story lines, or script ideas (which is different from the actual script itself) than they are carrying it a bit too far.
Monty
Section 102 of the Copyright Act of 1976 provides that copyright applies to "original works of authorship fixed in any tangible medium of expression, now known or later developed, from which they can be percived, reproduced or otherwise communicated, either directly or with the aid of a machine or device." Something is "fixed" in the tangible medium of expression when it is "sufficiently permanent or stable to permit it to be perceived, reproduced or otherwise communicated for a period of more than transitory duration."
This would seem to indicate that Internet postings are within the copyright laws. Keep in mind that something fitting the definition above is eligible for copyright the moment that it is fixed. You need not apply for copyright protection (although you need federal registration to enforce your copyright).
However, also keep in mind that "ideas" are not copyright-able. Copyright is limited to the author's "method" of expressing the idea. Thus, a Seinfeld writer could get an idea for a script from an Internet posting without infringing any copyright. However, taking a humorous line directly from a posting and using it in the show could be seen as infringement.
There are all kinds of problematic intellectual property issues involving the Internet. So far, the medium is too young to have been fully addressed by the courts or legislatures. At this time, they can't even figure out when a computer program has been infringed.
I'd be THRILLED to see them use on of my ideas in the show as I'm sure many of you would!