A television program creator is the person who developed a significant part of a TV show's format, concept, characters, and pilot script. They have sequel rights to the material as well. Often, the creator is also the showrunner or a producer. Sometimes it is a writer of the series bible, or writers' guidelines. In the United States, a Writers Guild of America (WGA) screenwriting credit system governs credits. For example, the Writers Guild of America West provides specifications for creator credits that govern its members. The Producers Guild of America's corresponding code for producers defines "Executive Producer" and similar roles but not an explicit "Creator" role. Creator is a specific credit given explicitly in many shows. However, it has not always been a prominent, explicit credit. For example, Sydney Newman, the accepted creator of The Avengers (1961–69), was never given an explicit credit as creator; Newman never thought to ask for one. The creator of a television show may retain rights to participate in profits, often to be paid by the production company as a percentage of fees that it receives from networks and distributors. In 2014, for prime-time network TV shows, the WGA-required royalty to be paid to a writer with "created by" credit is approximately $1,000 per episode or higher. Who merits creator credit is sometimes a matter of contention. In a 2013 legal case, a director sued a former writing partner for co-creator credit. Examples Notable examples of creators include: Natasha Allegri, created the web series Bee and Puppycat turned into a TV series on Netflix. Paul Abbott, created Shameless, and is also responsible for the creation of Reckless and Touching Evil for ITV, as well as Clocking Off and State of Play for the BBC. J. J. Abrams, co-created Felicity (1998–2002), created Alias (2001–2006), co-created Lost (2004–2010), Fringe (2008–2013), Undercovers (2010) Britt Allcroft created the children's television series Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends (later re-titled Thomas & Friends), Shining Time Station (with Rick Siggelkow) and Magic Adventures of Mumfie Gerry Anderson and Sylvia Anderson, co-creators of Thunderbirds (1965–66); Gerry Anderson also created Supercar (1961–62) Danny Antonucci, created The Brothers Grunt, Cartoon Sushi, and Ed, Edd n Eddy Meredith Averill, creator and executive producer of The CW science fiction teen drama Star-Crossed. Craig Bartlett, created Hey Arnold, Dinosaur Train and Ready Jet Go!. Ben Bocquelet, created The Amazing World of Gumball. Donald P. Bellisario, co-created Magnum,