It would be interesting to see how much money the WGA makes per year on the registry.

Well, I've read they register between 50,000 - 70,000 scripts a year, so at 20 bucks a pop....

But thanks for posting this, Scott. As someone with a handful of finished scripts, all of them registered but none copyrighted, this is eye-opening.

Good to know. Thanks Scott!

Never understood why the WGA even registers scripts at all. It's very misleading and borderline criminal to allow writers to register script after script with them and then... god forbid... they need the WGA to show proof of ownership, they can't help the writer because registering with the WGA does NOT show proof of ownership.

It's baffling and has made me lose respect for the WGA over the years... just hearing how writers register scripts year after year after year and the WGA has never made it clear that they are inferior to copyrighting.

From what I understand, WGA registry is useful in setting up a paper trail should you have a dispute over screenplay/story credit and have to go to them for arbitration.

It really is a way for WGA members and signatories to protect their butts vis-a-vis WGA rules. That's not the same thing as copyright law.

And I'm pretty sure that a person cannot go to the WGA for arbitration unless they are already a member. (Correct me if I'm wrong.)

Technically, all the WGA offers is that a WGA person will show up to court for you to vouch that they had the script at a certain date... If you didn't have a copyright filed by then, all you can collect is damages (correct me if I'm wrong)?

However, copyright would pay for attorney fees and statutory as well.

This article from The Writer's Store shows up the differences between registering a work with the US Copyright Office and the WGA.
In summary, USCO registration offers enhanced legal protection. Registering with the WGA doesn't.

http://www.writersstore.com/wgaw-registration-vs-copyright-registration

My way around this would be to file suit in my home country, England, where this absurd law does not apply. Problem solved.