# 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. Also known as: WGA script registration, WGAW Registry ## In practice WGA registration is a recordkeeping step: a writer submits material to the WGAW Registry, receives a registration number, and can later ask the Registry to confirm the submission date. That dated record may be useful evidence in a dispute, but the Registry does not read the work, judge ownership, police the market, or promise that nobody will copy what was filed. Registration and copyright answer different questions. A WGA registration records a deposit with the Guild's service for a limited registration term; registration with the U.S. Copyright Office creates a federal public record and is tied to remedies available under copyright law. Writers sometimes use both, but one does not silently substitute for the other. Keep the exact submitted file and its receipt together. Inkwell save points can help you label the draft that left your workspace, while exports give you the actual artifact to register. That history is practical organization, not proof that Inkwell has registered a work, determined authorship, or made a legal claim on your behalf. ## See it formatted - [Screenplay title pages and anonymous submissions](https://www.inkwell.software/resources/screenplay-formatting/title-pages-anonymous-submissions): Keep a normal master title page with authorship and contact information, but create a separate anonymous PDF whenever the current submission rules require it. ## Official sources & context Sources reviewed Jul 29, 2026 This is general educational information, not legal advice. Registration choices and deadlines depend on your circumstances. - [WGAW Guide to the Guild — Registry services](https://www.wga.org/the-guild/about-us/guide-to-the-guild) - [WGAW Registry](https://www.wgawregistry.org/) ## Common questions ### Does WGA registration give me copyright? No. Copyright generally arises when original work is fixed, while federal registration is handled by the U.S. Copyright Office. WGA registration is a separate dated-record service. ### Does a WGA registration stop plagiarism? No service can prevent someone from copying a script. The Registry can document what was submitted and when; enforcement questions belong with qualified legal counsel. ### What should I keep after registering a script? Keep the submitted file, registration receipt, registration number, and the matching dated draft. A clearly named save point can help you find that exact version later. ## Related terms - [Screenplay copyright registration](https://www.inkwell.software/glossary/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. - [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: