After chain of title clearance is completed, what is the recommended next step?

• A. Register your script and its ownership with the US Copyright Office.
• B. Publish the script for public domain.
• C. File a trademark for the film title.
• D. Hire actors for the next draft.

Answer: (A)

After you’ve confirmed that all rights in the script and its underlying materials are clear, the next prudent move is to formalize protection by registering the script with the U.S. Copyright Office. Copyright protection exists from fixation, but registration provides tangible benefits that are essential for exploitation and enforcement. It creates an official record of authorship and ownership, which helps in licensing and project financing. More importantly, it enables you to sue for infringement and, in many cases, seek statutory damages and attorney’s fees, which strengthens your leverage and protection in disputes.

Choosing to publish the script for public domain would surrender all rights and control, undermining the business and creative value of the work. Filing a trademark for the film title is a separate protective measure focused on branding and preventing confusion in the marketplace, and it doesn’t protect the screenplay itself in the same way. Hiring actors is a production step that happens as you develop and produce the project, not a post-clearance protection measure.