EXACT same script ... different companies?!
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Topic: EXACT same script ... different companies?!
Posted By: Nanette
Subject: EXACT same script ... different companies?!
Date Posted: 4/04/07 at 9:52pm
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Perhaps I am mistaken, but I have always believed that when a publishing company handled a production (royalties, distribution, rights, etc.) no one else had permission to distribute THE EXACT SAME SCRIPT.
I've recently purchased copies of scripts from different publishing companies to perusal, yet have discovered that two seperate companies sold me the same script. One company listed the name of the playwright directly under the title of the script; the second company did not (I have since found it elsewhere on their site.).
Has anyone else experienced anything like this? Any suggestions on what to do about this? ------------- In a world of margarine, be butter! |
Replies:
Posted By: Theatrestation
Date Posted: 4/05/07 at 4:23am
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Are you talking about "Baker's Plays" and "Samuel French"? There is a partnership there, although I am not sure what the exact relation is. I have most often seen it referred to as Baker's being a division of Samuel French. I have seen several instances of musicals being available at more than one house and that, I believe, has been when a composer has made certain arrangements for the leasing of his catalogue of shows. ------------- http://www.castbuilding.com http://www.theatrestation.com |
Posted By: Nanette
Date Posted: 4/05/07 at 7:16am
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No, this was a non-musical ... Children's Theatre Plays and Dramatic Publishing. ------------- In a world of margarine, be butter! |
Posted By: Nanette
Date Posted: 4/05/07 at 10:54am
Update ... I contacted the second company (happened to be the person who wrote the script) and explained the situation. I asked if they could refund my purchase amount and they agreed.  ------------- In a world of margarine, be butter! |
Posted By: P&M Sales
Date Posted: 4/05/07 at 11:05am
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It all depends on the contractual arrangements the author/composer wanted. As publishers and rights-holders obviously we prefer it when we can secure an exclusive deal with an author, but for various reasons they may prefer a non-exclusive one. It hasn't happened very often to us, and having now just looked it up, there is only one title in our catalogue that is non-exclusive. In our case this means the author may sell copies of his own script and may also licence performances - all in parallel with our own sales & licencing. The two scripts you mention MUST have different ISBN's if they have been published by two separate companies. You don't say where the scripts referred you to for performing rights applications - was that two places or one? ------------- best regards David http://www.stagescripts.com - http://www.stagescripts.com |
Posted By: Nanette
Date Posted: 4/05/07 at 12:15pm
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Searching the 2nd site, I've found it mentioned that it was published by Dramatic Publishing. The playwright's site (the 2nd site) was also selling the rights to copy scripts/performance license/royalties as a bulk item (one-stop shopping!). ------------- In a world of margarine, be butter! |