Screenwriting & TV Credits Agreement

When two or more writers contribute to a screenplay, the determination of credit is not always straightforward. IAWG members have developed thorough procedures to arbitrate disputes over the awarding of credits and the Affiliation has adopted the following agreement for resolving differences when two guilds have members writing on the same theatrical motion picture or television drama.

a) If the producer has its principal place of business for the production of the film in country A, and the first writer is engaged, or literary material is acquired, pursuant to the basic agreement of the guild in country A, then the guild in country A will conduct the credit arbitration.

b) If the producer has its principal place of business for the production of the film in country A, and the first writer is engaged, or literary material is acquired, pursuant to the basic agreement of the guild in country B, the the guild in country B will conduct the arbitration, but the guild in country B may request the guild in country A to conduct the arbitration and the guild in country A will accede to such request.

c) In the event that the basic agreement of one of the member guilds involved does not include credit arbitration provisions, but the other guild's basic agreement does, then the member guild with the credit arbitration provisions will conduct the arbitration.

1. Existing screenplay/TV credits "Written By", "Screenplay By", "Story By", and "Screen Story By" will continue to be awarded in any international credit arbitration as they are now in the respective agreements and credits manuals. In the case of any other credit, the credit agreement and manual of the guild whose basic agreement applies to the services of the first writer will apply.
   
   
2. Each guild annually files with each other guild its master list of credit arbitrators; and the right of any writer to any reasonable number of challenges to the list of another guild shall be guaranteed. As in all aspects of credit arbitration, any challenges shall remain confidential.
   
   
3. Member guilds shall use their best efforts to keep one another advised of any available information regarding employment of writers or acquisition of material that would be subject to this agreement.