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Content Licenses Explained

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When you share a script through Screenplay Studio, you can attach a license that tells recipients exactly what they can and cannot do with your work. This page explains every option in plain English.

Note: Screenplay Studio does not provide legal advice. For binding agreements, consult an entertainment lawyer.

Quick Reference

LicenseShareRemixCommercialCredit
All Rights Reserved
Confidential
Under NDANDA onlyNDA
WGA Registered
CC0 — Public Domain
CC BY
CC BY-SASame license
CC BY-NC
CC BY-NC-SASame license
CC BY-ND
CC BY-NC-ND
©

Traditional Copyright

Full Protection

All Rights Reserved

© ARR

Standard copyright. No one can copy, distribute, perform, or adapt your work without your explicit permission.

Can share?

No — not without permission

Can remix?

No

Commercial use?

No — permission required

Credit required?

N/A

Use when: You're pitching to studios, submitting to competitions, or circulating drafts to a controlled audience. This is the default for most professional screenwriting.

Restricted

Confidential — Do Not Distribute

🔒 CONFIDENTIAL

Not for distribution beyond the intended recipient. No sharing, copying, or storing beyond what's needed for review.

Can share?

No — internal only

Can remix?

No

Commercial use?

No

Credit required?

N/A

Use when: Early-stage development materials, financing documents, commissioned drafts, or anything you're sending to a finite controlled group.

Legally Binding

Under NDA

📋 NDA

Access requires a signed Non-Disclosure Agreement. Recipients are legally bound to keep the content confidential.

Can share?

Only with NDA signatories

Can remix?

No

Commercial use?

Governed by NDA terms

Credit required?

N/A

Use when: IP-sensitive concepts, pre-green-light scripts at larger studios, or any context where you need legal teeth on confidentiality.

Timestamped

WGA Registered

📝 WGA

Your script is registered with the Writers Guild of America. This creates a timestamped record of your authorship — it does NOT restrict or grant any rights.

Can share?

Yes (governed by copyright)

Rights granted?

None — it's a record

Proves authorship?

Yes — useful in disputes

Replaces copyright?

No

Use when: You want a timestamped record before wide circulation, useful if authorship is ever disputed. Often combined with All Rights Reserved.

CC

Creative Commons — Free to Use

These licenses let others use your work freely, with minimal conditions. Great for writers who want their work in the world.

✓ Free to use

CC0 — Public Domain Dedication

You waive all copyright. Anyone can do anything with your work — adapt, sell, republish — with zero conditions.

Can share?

✓ Yes, freely

Can remix?

✓ Yes, even commercially

Commercial use?

✓ Yes

Credit required?

Not required (though appreciated)

Use when: Writing samples, open-source educational scripts, or when you actively want maximum exposure and reuse.

✓ Free with credit

CC BY — Attribution

Anyone can use, share, adapt, even commercially — as long as they give you credit.

Can share?

✓ Yes

Can remix?

✓ Yes

Commercial use?

✓ Yes

Credit required?

✓ Yes — your name must appear

Use when: Portfolio work, educational scripts you want widely adapted, open writing. The most permissive CC license that still requires credit.

✓ Free (copyleft)

CC BY-SA — Attribution + ShareAlike

CC BY-SAOfficial ↗

Free to use and adapt with credit — but any derivative work must carry the same CC BY-SA license (copyleft).

Can share?

✓ Yes

Can remix?

✓ Yes — but same license applies

Commercial use?

✓ Yes

Credit required?

✓ Yes

Use when: Community-built stories, collaborative worlds, or anywhere you want a "viral" licensing structure that keeps derivatives open.

CC

Creative Commons — Restricted Use

These licenses allow some sharing but restrict commercial use, remixes, or both. You keep more control.

Non-commercial only

CC BY-NC — NonCommercial

CC BY-NCOfficial ↗

Free for anyone to share and adapt with credit — but only for non-commercial purposes. Commercial use requires your permission.

Can share?

✓ Yes (non-commercial)

Can remix?

✓ Yes (non-commercial)

Commercial use?

✗ Requires permission

Credit required?

✓ Yes

Use when: Academic scripts, festival-only submissions, or work you're happy for students/educators to use but want to monetise yourself.

Non-commercial + ShareAlike

CC BY-NC-SA

CC BY-NC-SAOfficial ↗

Non-commercial use only, with credit. Derivatives must use the same license.

Can share?

✓ Yes (non-commercial)

Can remix?

✓ Yes (same license, non-commercial)

Commercial use?

✗ Requires permission

Credit required?

✓ Yes

Use when: Works you want to circulate freely in creative/educational communities, while keeping commercial rights to yourself.

Share unchanged only

CC BY-ND — NoDerivatives

CC BY-NDOfficial ↗

Others can share your work as-is with credit, but cannot make adaptations or derivative works.

Can share?

✓ Yes (unchanged)

Can remix?

✗ Not allowed

Commercial use?

✓ Yes (but unchanged)

Credit required?

✓ Yes

Use when: Finished scripts you're happy to distribute widely (press kits, portfolios) but don't want adapted.

Share unchanged, non-commercial

CC BY-NC-ND — Most Restrictive CC

CC BY-NC-NDOfficial ↗

The most restrictive Creative Commons license. Others can only share your original, unchanged work for non-commercial purposes, with credit.

Can share?

✓ Yes (unchanged, non-commercial)

Can remix?

✗ Not allowed

Commercial use?

✗ Not allowed

Credit required?

✓ Yes

Use when: Works that are effectively "read-only" — you want visibility but full control over commercial exploitation and adaptations.

Creative Commons licenses are maintained by the Creative Commons organization. WGA registration info at wga.org.

Copyright Policy