I remember doing a day course once with Dave Cohen.
I wrote a Joke about Google Streetview with a Go & Ogle Punchline.
I don't know which of the other course members wrote it down & sold it later but I do know that the joke practically went Platinum not long after
I may not write much, and what I have written may need tightening up a bit, but that is precisely why I don't like exposing my material to anyone, or at least too many people. However that is merely my rather excessive paranoia and lack of trust of anything human or not.
Quote: Vader @ June 29 2011, 6:53 PM BSTWasn't it Adam Sandler in Click? And it seemed like you had too many characters, certainly for a 6 part sitcom with other characters coming in, and not enough of a hierarchy. Plus I wouldn't have thought the chracters would have much contact apart from on their breaks since they're all from different parts of the Supermarket.
Sandler! That's the chap! Vaguely similar names.
I had the idea that it would be a bit more of a sketch show within a sitcom, iyswim, but it wasn't 'finished' by any means. Oh, and workers do wander in a supermarket. A lot. I speak from experience.
Quote: Mikey Jackson @ June 29 2011, 6:55 PM BSTI had a vegetarian butcher in a sitcom episode I wrote about two years ago.
Oh, and I also have a sitcom pilot set entirely in the staff room of a supermarket.
Proves that similar (and near-exact) ideas happen.But I can see how you'd be a bit effed off after the discover of V Wood's involvement, seeing as she read your script.
Of course, that doesn't necessarily mean pinched ideas. (Which is of course a pretty strong accusation without proof)
She might have then read another supermarket script which she liked enough to star in.Don't bin your scripts though. It doesn't mean the end for your supermarket idea. Just put it on the back burner for now and write something else.
Thanks, Mikey, that helped a little!
I think it's a case of 'wait and see pie'...
Keep a very close eye on things and if you think you've got a case, go for it..!
When did you originally send the script? Oh, and I take it you didn't have an agent, right?
Quote: gythaogg @ June 29 2011, 4:22 PM BSTI have a posted, sealed copy of the script I sent to the BBC.
I believe that, in legal terms, that's considered to be worth less than the postage paid.
How do you know that? I'd always heard that was worth while.
There has already been a copyright issue where the writer produced a sealed envelope containing an 'original' script...
It was argued the envelope could have been sealed at any time from the date of the post mark and the judge agreed...
You are actually much better off posting things on here if you want to protect them. It's time and date stamped and has a huge number of witnesses.
In this case wait and see. My money is on the similarity being negligible. Ask Simon and Declan on the Sitcom Mission thread how many supermarket sitcoms they've seen. My guess is a few. It's not going to be a unique setting. Tripper's Day has been mentioned, and this one isn't far off Corrie plots with Reg and Curly from a few years back.
Quote: RedZed333 @ June 29 2011, 10:32 PM BSTThere has already been a copyright issue where the writer produced a sealed envelope containing an 'original' script...
It was argued the envelope could have been sealed at any time from the date of the post mark and the judge agreed...
Which was this?
Quote: RedZed333 @ June 29 2011, 10:32 PM BSTThere has already been a copyright issue where the writer produced a sealed envelope containing an 'original' script...
Wasn't this case delayed when the producers and agents died of shock?
Quote: Steve Sunshine @ June 29 2011, 7:14 PM BSTI remember doing a day course once with Dave Cohen.
I wrote a Joke about Google Streetview with a Go & Ogle Punchline.I don't know which of the other course members wrote it down & sold it later but I do know that the joke practically went Platinum not long after
Both myself and fellow stand up, James Cook, independently wrote jokes about using Google to search for porn and that it should be called "go ogle" so I don't think it's a particularly unique observation to have made in all honesty.
Quote: Tony Cowards @ June 29 2011, 11:11 PM BSTBoth myself and fellow stand up, James Cook, independently wrote jokes about using Google to search for porn and that it should be called "go ogle" so I don't think it's a particularly unique observation to have made in all honesty.
I also have go ogle in my notebook from a few years ago and I think Griff did too before he went anti-matter.
Quote: Vader @ June 29 2011, 10:28 PM BSTHow do you know that? I'd always heard that was worth while.
I read it online. 
Who told you it was worthwhile?
Are there many successful plagarism cases? I can only really think of Harlan Ellison suing James Cameron for ripping off one of his Outer Limit scripts to make The Terminator.