Legal questions about idea's

[Brian410]

I know that idea's such as TV shows are not protective under the law, but what if I wrote it down on a peace of paper. And then got a notary to sign it. Then keep detail records of dates and times I presented the idea to companies. Wouldn't that provide some short of precedent in a legal sense?

 

[army judge]

I know that idea's such as TV shows are not protective under the law, but what if I wrote it down on a peace of paper. And then got a notary to sign it. Then keep detail records of dates and times I presented the idea to companies. Wouldn't that provide some short of precedent in a legal sense?

Your idea seems like it might work, but there are two problems:

Notarized documents only attest to the fact that YOU signed a document.
A notary doesn't consider what you wrote, simply that you wrote it.
A notarized letter claiming you are the "rightful" heir to the British throne is legally insignificant, other than verifying that YOU, Prince Wanna Beking, signed the letter in the presence of the notary.
Most production companies won't even look at unsolicited ideas because of possible legal entanglements, like you may have stolen the idea and are poeddling it as your work.

To shop ideas for television or movie companies you need to be represented by an inside agent, otherwise, no reputable company will even look at your idea.
The ones that do will very often "rip you off".