IP Submission Page

Here’s what happened…

I had lunch with my agent who told me that TV studios and broadcasters are hungry for existing intellectual property (IP). While this isn’t news, what IS news is that the IP they’re looking for does not have to be from an established brand (e.g. LEGO, Ugly Monsters) or from a known writer/creator.

This is huge.

What this means is that studios are willing to make TV development deals for IP from anyone based on self-published books, blogs, home-grown comics, graphic novels, short films and web series on YouTube; but it has to be something that already has some produced content behind it that shows the potential. Not market potential, but concept potential. It also has to be brought to them with an established writer or producer attached so there’s a comfort level that the project can be developed properly.

For aspiring writers this opens a huge door, bigger than any I’ve seen, so I’d like to make you a proposal. If you have any IP like those I’ve listed above send me a brief description and all links you can. I’ll look at every concept and link and if I think there’s potential I will respond and offer to partner with you on it. We’ll make an official deal wherein I personally pitch the idea to studios and broadcasters with both you and me attached.

KNOW THIS — YOU ARE THE IP HOLDER! I will NOT steal your idea. Nobody will steal your idea. You will be attached and credited as the originator of the IP. Nobody will take that away from you. If and when it comes time to make a deal with a studio or broadcaster you will have all the negotiating power an IP holder customarily has.

I know that this will be read skeptically by some. I don’t have a hidden agenda nor am I attempting to sell you anything (“Cool idea, but for only $99 I can make it a great idea!”) That isn’t this.

My goal is to find a hidden diamond out there, partner up, and use my connections to set it up. Please believe that this is a sincere, insider opportunity. Obviously, if you don’t feel comfortable, don’t submit.

Inspired by this, I’ve decided to recreate something which I first did back in the early days of my website.  I’d like to open up the submission process to any and all concepts, scripts and IP.  I had done this rather successfully back in the day (like, late ’90s!) and haven’t been doing it for year.  But with the hunger for material out there now’s the time to revisit this concept.  So, pitch me anything!  Script, TV series, even just a glimmer of an idea.  Everything will get my attention.  But be warned, very few ideas make past this first step.

And because my lawyer would prefer I don’t get sued for doing this, what follows is the official Unsolicted Material Submission Agreement.  It protects both my rights and the rights of whoever submits an idea to me.

PLEASE  NOTE — I WILL ONLY CONTACT YOU IF I LIKE YOUR IDEA AND THINK THERE’S SOMETHING I CAN DO WITH IT.  IF YOU DON’T HEAR FROM ME WITHIN 1 WEEK YOU SHOULD ASSUME THAT I’M PASSING ON THE IDEA.  PLEASE DO NOT E-MAIL ME TO FOLLOW UP OR ASK FOR AN EXPLANATION.

UNSOLICITED MATERIAL SUBMISSION AGREEMENT

I am submitting to you and request that you read and evaluate the unsolicited material (the “material”) at the bottom of this page. I enter the absence of such an agreement, you would not accept delivery of, consider or otherwise evaluate or use the material.

In consideration of the above, and the benefits which I may receive under this agreement, we agree as follows: 

1. I represent and warrant that I am the sole owner and author of the material (which is completely and totally original with me) and that I have the exclusive right and authority to submit the material to you upon the terms and conditions contained in this agreement. I will indemnify you and hold you harmless of and from any and all claims, damages, costs, expenses, losses or liabilities (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees and costs whether or not litigation is commenced) that may be asserted against you or incurred by you, at any time, in connection with the material or any use of the material.

2. I understand that you are involved in the creation and selling of ideas and concepts for film and TV, and may already have a similar idea in development.  I agree that I will not be entitled to any compensation because of your use of any literary materials and ideas which may be similar or identical to the material in theme, idea, plot, format, setting or other respects and which may have been independently created by you or may have come to you from any other sources, including your own employees, or if for any reason the material is not legally protectible or owned exclusively by me. I understand that no confidential relationship, express or implied, is established by my submitting the material to you.

3. I agree that any part of the material which is not legally protectible property may be used by you without any liability to me. If you desire to produce a motion picture and/or other production based upon any of the material that is legally protected (provided it has not been obtained by you from another source or independently created by you), I will sign a written copy of this agreement.

4. If there is any dispute concerning, arising out of or in connection with the material or this agreement, I agree that my sole remedy shall be to commence an arbitration by a single neutral person seeking actual damages for the reasonable value, which amount shall in no event under any theory exceed the Flat Deal Screen Minimum Compensation for a Story or Treatment for a High Budget Theatrical Photoplay as set forth in the Writers Guild of America Minimum Basic Agreement current at the first instance of your alleged use. In no event will I be entitled to rescind or terminate this agreement and/or any rights granted to you under this agreement, or to enjoin, restrain or interfere with in any way whatsoever any production or program produced by you, or the distribution and exploitation thereof.

5. I acknowledge and agree that you may assign or license this agreement and/or all or any of your rights under the agreement. I agree that this agreement shall inure to your benefit and the benefit of your heirs, successors, representatives, assigns and licensees.

6. I acknowledge that I have read and understand this agreement, that no oral representations of any kind have been made to me, that I have not relied on any statements or representations outside the text of this agreement, and that this agreement states our entire understanding with reference to its subject matter. Any modification or waiver of any of the provisions of this agreement must be in writing and signed by both of us.

7. Except as may be expressly set forth in this agreement, I release you of and from any and all claims, demands and liabilities of every kind whatsoever, known or unknown, that may arise in relation to any claim that you have used or appropriated the material.

8. Should any provision or part of any provision be void or unenforceable, such provision or part thereof shall be deemed omitted, and this agreement with such provision or part thereof omitted shall remain in full force and effect. This agreement shall be construed under and governed by the laws of the State of California.