A, maybe, Legal Question

[VeeKay]

Here's a hypothetical situation: A person creates a routine which he performers for many years on circus and other venues. One day someone comes along and put the routine in writing in script form and sends it out to other clowns, but does not give the creator credit for the routine. People receiving the script think that the writer is the creator of the routine. My understanding is that once it is in writing, with no credit, it's consider now "Public Domain."

Similar thing is happening to me now. Someone took an original idea of mine, wrote it as a script and is distibuting to other student clowns in his class.
What rights do I have? What do you say?

[John Peters]

I'm now a lawyer, but I don't think you would have any rights. I certainly would discuss the matter with the person who copied your idea and ask them to give you the courtesy putting your name on the idea. Then I would see what can be done from the legal standpoint and have the idea registered under your name. Good luck!