Thursday, February 15, 2007

The Radio Play's The Thing

From the people behind Channel 4's The Play's The Thing, comes a radio drama competition for new writers. The competition is open to: "anybody over the age of 18 on 12 February 2007 who has not had any previous screenplays, stage, radio and television scripts and/or treatments professionally commissioned, published, staged, optioned and/or produced in any format."

As is often the case with this sort of competition run by a broadcaster the terms and conditions mean that entrants give up most of their rights.
Entrants now grant C4 (and third parties authorised by C4) a worldwide and irrevocable licence (which shall be exclusive from the date that the Entrant sends their Submission to C4 until 31st December 2007 and thereafter non-exclusive) (for the full period of any rights in the Submission and Entrant’s Participation) to use, display, publish, transmit, copy, make derivative works from, edit, alter, store, re-format, sell and sub-licence the Submission and/or Entrant’s Participation for such purposes.

8 comments:

  1. Anonymous9:24 am

    I'm getting rather peeved with the disfunctionality of this "software" since it usually plays up and has just lost all my input. It's not just the amount but the careful thought that goes into it.

    The other software didn't play me up.

    - And now I find I am having to redo the word verification. Give me a break!

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  2. Anonymous2:55 pm

    I hate to knock any platform for new writers, but this does seem like a lot to give up, for the chance of getting a radio play. I'm developing a feature script based on a radio play that I wrote a few years ago and I'd hate to have surrendered the chance to do that. I do hope the publicity that the winner gets makes the loss of rights a price worth paying.

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  3. Anonymous10:15 am

    Ouch! Edel is right. I'm surprised that the rules missed out the bit about giving up your first born son.

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  4. Anonymous8:57 pm

    The same rules applied last year for The Play's The Thing, as far as I can remember.

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  5. Anonymous6:33 pm

    The rules state that professional writers don't qualify for this competition so that would rule out Full Members of the Guild. However it could apply to Candidate Members.

    What would the Guild be prepared to do for them?

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  6. Anonymous9:46 am

    Why, the candidate members have the same option as you, me and the Queen: think before you sign! And then, perhaps, don't. We've just pointed out the pitfalls, which apply to whomever you are. The world of new technology and platforms is and will be strewn with people trying to take your copyright. Don't let them. The choice is up to you.

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  8. It clearly says it's a 'licence' - it's not "trying to take your copyright", it is not a transfer of copyright ownership in any way - it's simply enabling the broadcaster (who is paying to produce the play) to be able to broadcast it.

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