Seriously, in relation to this article, I sometimes wonder if worry too much much about others stealing our material. I mean, can they really steal OUR bits and OUR sets if we develop them from OUR observations, OUR experiences, OUR viewpoints, OUR convictions? Sure, they may use our wordage, but even if they use our routines or large sections of it, but if all they are stealing is “jokes”, the kernels of Truth at the core of those sets are still ours — and cannot be taken away.

I know it happens, and I know it’s very frustrating and unfair when it does, but I think SOMETIMES we waste too much precious time and creative energy worrying about it. IFor example, some wrote a comment to a different article on this website And suggested we use our B material for open mic performances and “save” our best stuff for when bookers and scouts are present. But don’t we especially need to be practicing and fine-tuning our A material? Maybe, we can find even more creative ways to express the ideas others “borrow” from our acts.

Or perhaps the comedy gods are telling us to move on! 🙂

I can certainly understand this PROVIDED a comedian has taken no formal action to protect their comedy material, such as writing up a one person act and submitting it to WGA (costs $20). They then have the same legal protection as any other play, screenplay, movie script or whatever via WGA. FYI.