# Screenplay copyright registration > Registration of a screenplay with the U.S. Copyright Office as a work of the performing arts. It is distinct from WGA registration and creates a federal registration record. Also known as: copyright a screenplay, script copyright registration ## In practice A screenplay is generally registered with the U.S. Copyright Office as a work of the performing arts. The application identifies the work and claimant, the deposit supplies the material being registered, and the fee completes the submission package. The Office—not a writing app, producer, contest, or guild registry—decides whether the submitted claim can be registered. Copyright registration is not the same as sending yourself a draft, attaching a copyright notice, or using the WGAW Registry. Those actions may create records, but they do not create a Copyright Office registration. Timing can affect available legal remedies, which is why writers with a live dispute or a high-stakes transaction should use official guidance or qualified counsel. Version hygiene still matters. Export the exact screenplay you intend to deposit, name the matching save point, and retain the confirmation associated with the application. Inkwell can help keep those versions organized; it does not file the application, validate the claimant, or determine which screenplay elements are legally protectable. ## Official sources & context Sources reviewed Jul 29, 2026 This overview cannot determine ownership, registrability, deadlines, or remedies for a particular screenplay. Use official instructions or legal counsel. - [U.S. Copyright Office — Register a work of the performing arts](https://www.copyright.gov/registration/performing-arts/) - [U.S. Copyright Office — Registration portal](https://www.copyright.gov/registration/) ## Common questions ### Is a screenplay registered as a literary work? The Copyright Office directs scripts and screenplays to its performing-arts registration path. Follow the current application guidance rather than guessing from the everyday meaning of literary. ### Is WGA registration enough for federal copyright registration? No. They are separate systems run by different organizations. A WGA registration number is not a U.S. Copyright Office registration certificate. ### Can Inkwell register copyright for me? No. Inkwell can export and preserve the draft you choose, but the writer or their representative must use the Copyright Office's official process. ## Related terms - [WGA registration](https://www.inkwell.software/glossary/wga-registration): A paid WGAW Registry service that creates a dated record of submitted literary material. It can document when a draft existed, but it is not federal copyright registration and does not prevent copying. - [Literary material](https://www.inkwell.software/glossary/literary-material): A defined category of writer-created material under the WGA MBA that can include screenplays, teleplays, stories, treatments, and other covered writing. It is a contract term, not merely a synonym for prose. - [Save point](https://www.inkwell.software/glossary/save-point): A named, unchanging snapshot of your draft at a moment you choose — “Table read,” “Before studio notes.” Unlike autosave, it never quietly overwrites itself, so you can always return to exactly that version. - [Spec script](https://www.inkwell.software/glossary/spec-script): A screenplay written on speculation — no deal yet — meant to sell the story or showcase craft. Specs usually skip production numbering and camera direction. - [Read the pillar guide](https://www.inkwell.software/learn/wga-aware-screenwriting-workflows): A longer guide for this workflow --- Canonical page: