Nollywood Script Protection: Timestamp Before You Pitch

Nollywood produces over 2,500 films per year — more than Hollywood. But the industry's informal culture of script sharing means writers routinely lose control of their work the moment they pitch it.

The Pitching Problem

A screenwriter pitches a concept. Sends the script to a producer. The producer passes. Six months later, a suspiciously similar film is in production under a different writer's name.

Without a record of when the original script existed, the writer has no leverage. NDAs are uncommon in Nollywood. Contracts are often verbal. The script itself is the only evidence — and without a timestamp, it proves nothing about timing.

The Smart Screenwriter's Workflow

Timestamp every draft before sending it to anyone. Not just the final script — every treatment, outline, and revision. Each timestamp creates a trail showing the evolution of your work over time.

If a dispute arises, you can demonstrate not just that you had the final script, but that you developed it through multiple iterations over weeks or months — a pattern that's virtually impossible to fake.

Beyond Scripts: Protecting Story Concepts

While copyright doesn't protect ideas (only expression), a timestamped treatment or detailed outline can be powerful evidence. If your 15-page treatment predates someone else's script by three months, and the plot points are identical, the timestamp tells a story that any judge or arbitrator can follow.

For Nollywood writers, a timestamp is the cheapest insurance policy available — and it works internationally, which matters as the industry increasingly co-produces with partners in the US, UK, and Europe.