The Culture Ministry put forth standardized contracts for screenwriters Tuesday in a move to promote their rights.

The four kinds of contracts, which cover the consent to film, copyrights, scripts and fictionization, have been finalized based upon versions created by the Korean Film Council in 2012 and opinions gathered from related entities. The contracts will guarantee profits for scenario writers and the copyrights they hold, according to the ministry.

Under the new contracts, authors shall be given due profits in the case of their films' success, and all rights to utilize the works, for example in TV and other performing arts adaptations, shall be owned by the writers.

It is the latest in a series of government efforts to make standard contracts for all parties involved including workers, screening firms and investors.

"The standardized documents are expected to help build a virtuous circle in the film industry by eliminating chances of unfair practices," Yun Tae-yong, a ministry official, said.

"We are to make it mandatory for those who produce government-sponsored films to adopt the standard contracts," he said, vowing more efforts to have at least half of Korean films shot each year use the standard forms.  

A mere 12.5 percent of films produced last year adopted the standard contract made by KOFIC for their writers, according to council data. (Yonhap)