To Whom It May Concern,

This letter is to formally establish the current and continuing position regarding the intellectual property rights of Amanda Michelina (Amanda Riddell) in relation to her creative works, including but not limited to:

• The screenplay Weeded Out (and all four episodes in draft form),

• The derivative prose work Just Like Yesterday,

• Related drafting documents and treatments, and

• All songs and musical works authored by Amanda Michelina.
  

1. Authorship and Copyright Ownership

Authorship of the Weeded Out scripts has been conclusively established through dated drafts spanning 2020–2022, which demonstrate consistent characters, themes, and structure across all versions.

Under the Copyright Act 1994 (NZ), copyright subsists automatically in original literary, dramatic, and musical works at the moment of their creation. No formal registration is required, and no third party can claim ownership without a signed licence or transfer agreement. Amanda has never signed any contract, licence, or agreement granting production rights in these works. She has consistently communicated that she is adapting the screenplay into prose and will determine the future of her works on her own terms.

2. Cease-and-Desist History

From March 2024 through July 2025, a structured series of cease-and-desist letters were written to Victoria University of Wellington (VUW), Wellington City Council, the New Zealand Film Commission, SPADA (Screen Producers Association of New Zealand), and published on this blog.

These letters unequivocally stated that:

• VUW, SPADA, and affiliated lecturers/producers have no ownership interest or licence in Weeded Out, Just Like Yesterday, or any of Amanda’s songs.
  

• Attempts to coerce, pressure, or misrepresent institutional control over Amanda’s work are unlawful.
  

• A benchmark licence fee was set in September 2024 (NZ$50,000) as an example of fair compensation, but no licence has ever been granted.
  

• The Final Cease-and-Desist of 11 July 2025 confirmed that none of the named institutions may produce, repurpose, or claim ownership of Amanda’s works.
  

3. Legal Position

• Victoria University of Wellington has no contractual or equitable claim over these works. Continued marketing communications and coercive efforts after cease-and-desist notices further demonstrate bad faith.
  

• SPADA and affiliated producers misrepresented Amanda as a collaborator, despite her refusal to enter into any formal negotiation. This does not create legal rights in the absence of a signed licence.
  

• Derivative drafts circulated without permission are illegal copies. Under New Zealand law, unlawful reproduction or adaptation does not transfer copyright; it only strengthens Amanda’s case for infringement proceedings.
  

• All intellectual property rights remain with Amanda Michelina, as the original author, and no organisation or individual has the legal authority to develop or produce these works in film, television, or any other medium without her express, written consent.
  

4. Evidence Appendix

In addition to the time-stamped drafts and cease-and-desist letters already cited, a secure evidence folder has been compiled at:https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/1o1fvViIv1gNG7N_BXcmY13aMQA1HmwFA

This folder contains emails, screenshots, and other materials demonstrating a pattern of harassment, defamation, and coercion by or on behalf of Victoria University of Wellington, SPADA, and affiliated lecturers/producers. These materials are to be treated as part of the evidentiary record supporting Amanda Michelina’s claims.

5. Conclusion

Any attempt by Victoria University of Wellington, SPADA, affiliated lecturers, producers, or related parties to produce, distribute, or otherwise exploit Amanda Michelina’s scripts or songs without a signed licence agreement constitutes copyright infringement and may result in legal proceedings, including claims for injunctions, damages, and costs.

Amanda reserves all rights in full.

Sincerely, Amanda Michelina (Amanda Riddell) Author & Rights Holder Obviously, the political parties are also part of the investigation: Greens, Act, National. Those are the ones that pushed me over the edge. There's evidence regarding the R18 claims, but that folder isn't public.