In 2011, I came up with this concept for a musical show and registered it with the WGAW. I then contacted a production company. The Producer thought it was a great concept and wanted to partnership with me. I was told that it would cost $80,000. I didn't have $40,000, so that left me out. But I did say that I would see what I could come up with. Fast forward to 2014. I was listening to WWH and almost fell off my chair when one of the guests was talking about a new show they would be hosting. It immediately made me think of my idea. So I went back and re-read my concept for the show and almost fell off my chair again. It is so close to my idea (even the name) that I have to believe that maybe someone was thumbing through the registry, took the idea, and gave it a facelift. Help!
Sounds like you might have a pretty good case. To get help you will need to find an attorney in the field - try looking for someone handling copyright/ intellectual property cases in your area. Talk to a few and get a consultation.
You should contact an intellectual property attorney for a consultation. There are some basic IP principles that they can discuss with you concerning this matter.
It was a great idea to register with Writers Guild. Unclear if you also registered a copyright of any treatment. These are never easy cases, but you are in a better position than those who have no registrations at all.
Concepts and ideas are not protectable property under any body of law.
Sometimes, however, when a person discloses an idea to someone else who promised ahead of time [either expressly or by conduct] not to disclose the idea then the idea-creator may have a viable breach of contract claim against the idea-recipient. But for this "idea submission" claim to succeed the idea-recipient MUST have had the legal duty to keep the idea secret. Which I strongly doubt is true in your situation.
Moreover, the documents deposited in the Writers Guild registry are not viewable by anyone -- even the Guild's employees -- unless and until the depositor requests proof of registration or a duplicate be made.
In short, even if we assume that the production company for the upcoming television show is making use of "your" idea to produce its show that is most likely lawful.
Perhaps, just perhaps, IF you gave the production company that you spoke to in 2011 a fully-developed, written description of how the television show would work and how it would look and IF you registered the copyright in that written description with the Copyright Office and IF you can prove that an employee of that company gave that written description to the company that's planning on producting the show and IF that show is "substantially similar" to your written description then PERHAPS you could assert a copyright infringement claim.
Only your own intellectual property attorney can evaluate all the facts to determine if you have any claim at all. I doubt it.
Short Answer: Consult and IP attorney to find out your options
The copyright in the work belongs to you. You have evidence of that ownership by having registered it with the WGAW. If it turns out you need to file a lawsuit, the first thing your attorney will advise you of is that you will need to register your work before bringing up your claim in court. Good Luck.
Copyright protection is not available for everything. Copyright law typically does not protect ideas, plots, or basic story concepts. It only protects the way in which those ideas are expressed or developed. What exactly did you file with the WGAW? Did you register anything with the U.S. Copyright Office? Registering with the WGAW establishes a date of creation, but it is not as useful as registering with Copyright office for at least two reasons: (1) some say registration with the Copyright Office is required before a lawsuit can be brought; and (2) registration with the Copyright Office after the infringement has taken place may preclude the recovery of attorneys fees or statutory damages in the lawsuit.
