|
Home > Asian Script Repository
Asian Script Repository
Brought to you by Screenwriters Association (Singapore), with
the kind support of Samuel Seow Law Corporation
Introduction
Protecting Your Creative Endeavours
Asian Script Repository is a place where authors can
register a copy of their creative works as proof of authorship.
Such proof can be used as evidence in a legal dispute over authorship.
Why a repository?
While copyright protection over a piece of written work
is automatic and there is no need for an author to take any further
steps to ensure that their completed works are adequately protected
under law, the convenience of a non-registration system often
results in awkward situations where copyright infringements
are difficult to prove. These occasions arise where it is difficult
to ascertain exactly at which point of time a particular piece
of work was completed by an author; and whether another author
who claims also to have written the work may have copied the first
work.
The Screenwriters Association (Singapore) recognises
this concern and therefore took the initiative in setting up the
Asian Script Repository to assist writers in establishing
authorship and date of creation/completion of their written materials.
Registration provides a dated record of a writer's claim to authorship
of a particular work and helps to circumvent the problems in proving
priority of ownership.
Who runs it?
The Asian Script Repository is managed by Samuel Seow Law Corporation,
an unbiased, independent third party. Although, registration
under the Asian Script Repository does not accord to the work
any additional protection under copyright laws, it provides independent
evidence which is capable of being produced by an independent
third party to support a writer's claim of authorship over
a piece of work as of a particular date.
Where necessary, the registered material may be used as evidence
of the material having been deposited with the Asian Script Repository
if legal action is initiated. In this way third party independent
evidence exists to help establish a writer's claim to priority
over any piece of work.
Who can use it?
The Asian Script Repository is a service, which is offered
not only to members of the SAS, but also to the general public.
However members of the SAS are entitled to enjoy the service at
a discounted price.
Registrable works
Works which may be registered under the Asian Script Repository
include:
- scripts
- treatments
- synopses
- outlines
- written ideas specifically intended for radio, television
and film, video cassettes/discs
- stage plays
- novels and other books
- short stories
- poems
- commercials
- lyrics
- drawings
- other interactive and non-interactive media.
At present the Asian Script Repository only accepts hard
copies of works. However in the near future online registration
will be made possible.
Limitations
Neither Screenwriters Association (Singapore) (SAS) nor Samuel
Seow Law Corporation will make comparisons of registration deposits,
bestow any statutory protections, or render any legal advice whatsoever.
All submitted material should be sealed by the author to prevent
tampering.
All materials that are received by Samuel Seow Law Corporation
would not be made privy to anyone including those handling the
sealed material. Please also be informed that registration with
the Asian Script Repository does not protect titles of works.
Cost of registration
The fee is Singapore $30 per registration (for a period of 5 years), by cash or by cheque made payable to "Samuel Seow Law Corporation". Do not send cash in the mail.
Term of registration and renewal
The term of registration of any piece of work is valid for
five (5) years. Once the term expires, the author may choose
to renew the registration for an additional five-year period at
the then-prevailing renewal rate. Applications for renewals must
be made in writing and signed by the author(s). Applications for
renewals will be accepted up to three (3) months prior to the
expiration of the initial term.
The SAS and Samuel Seow Law Corporation shall be entitled to
destroy all material which has been deposited under the Asian
Script Repository after the expiry of the initial term should
a valid application for renewal not be filed within such term.
All materials to be destroyed will not be unsealed in the process
of doing so, therefore, the author(s) of such deposits can be
assured of absolute confidentiality.
Registration procedure
Please download the Application
Form here (45Kb PDF document -- you may need to download the
free
Acrobat Reader to open the file).
| 
