I agree with the consensus to give a wide berth to questionable-sourced scripts found online including websites such as Scribd.
Like illegal productions of The Breakfast Club (a popular film which has never been available, to my knowledge, for the live stage) - you are tempting fate. Courting disaster. Even if the rights-owners never discovered, the internet never forgets...
We sweep through Scribd periodically and have our illegally uploaded materials removed form the site; Scribd is very good about immediately removing copyright violations.
I'm unsure if users are 'punished' (YouTube has a 3 strikes policy).
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Michael McDonough
TRW Director of Amateur Licensing
New York
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Original Message:
Sent: 04-30-2018 08:09
From: Kendra Knoblock
Subject: Rights to scripts found on Scribd
Thank you for your input!
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Kendra Knoblock
Rome0 MI
Original Message:
Sent: 04-29-2018 02:35
From: Jonathan Dorf
Subject: Rights to scripts found on Scribd
Based on Don's post, I decided to take a look at Scribd myself, and I just found an entire short play collection (in which we both appear, along with 8 other playwrights) apparently uploaded by a school. Yikes. I've taken screenshots and have contacted the publisher, and hopefully it will be taken down soon. I'm also contacting the business affairs department (i.e. the lawyers) of the Dramatists Guild so that they can investigate and take appropriate action.
I would echo Don's advice: stay away from this site.
I would further note that it is never OK to upload a playwright's copyrighted script to any website without explicit permission--a site which has such material is one to run away from as quickly as you can.
Cheers,
Jonathan
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Jonathan Dorf
Playwright/ Co-founder of YouthPLAYS/ Co-chair of The Alliance Of Los Angeles Playwrights
Los Angeles CA
Original Message:
Sent: 04-29-2018 01:06
From: Don Zolidis
Subject: Rights to scripts found on Scribd
So I had never really heard of this site, but I checked it, and lo and behold I found an ENTIRE script of a play of mine, that someone had posted from a file I had sent them.
It's been viewed 112 times.
Please don't use this site. Thanks. And I wish I knew who posted that.
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Don Zolidis
Austin TX
Original Message:
Sent: 04-28-2018 15:32
From: Crit Fisher
Subject: Rights to scripts found on Scribd
Stay away from Scribd.
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Crit Fisher
Lighting/Sound Designer
New Albany High School
Original Message:
Sent: 04-25-2018 07:52
From: Kendra Knoblock
Subject: Rights to scripts found on Scribd
Does anyone know the legalities of performing a script found on the site Scribd? I found a version of a script that exists as the movie version adaptation. The only problem is the creator/publisher aren't listed. I don't want to break copy-write, but I really like this version so much better than the Dramatic Publishing version.
Any ideas where to go?
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Kendra Knoblock
Rome0 MI
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