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Main => Gospel Music Lounge => Topic started by: Praise_Productions on January 04, 2004, 01:41:52 AM
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I ran across this and thought I would bring it here.
Does Your Church Break the Law?
by Larry Burkett
GAINESVILLE, Ga. (BP)--Many churches break the law on a weekly basis. How? They make illegal copies of music. For some reason, there is a vague thought process assuming that "as long as it's for the Lord's work, it should be okay." Nothing could be further from the truth.
The Internet provides the ability to find an overabundance of material almost instantly and, at the same time, has contributed to the capacity to illegally use copyrighted materials. Recently, the recording industry brought lawsuits against some Web sites. The suits were related to widespread copyright infringement: music being offered electronically that facilitates and allegedly damaged the protection that is provided through present copyright laws.
Works created by an individual that are fixed in a tangible medium, such as the article you're now reading, are protected from theft by the United States copyright laws. The law is intended to protect the "intellectual property" of authors, artists, composers, and others.
The Bible says, "Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due" [Romans 4:4]. Violating copyright law denies the copyright holder fair compensation for his or her labor. In other words, breaking a copyright law is not much different than picking the pocket of the copyright holder.
A work is copyrighted as soon as it is written, photographed, painted, programmed, or put into some tangible form. Original works may be registered with the U.S. Copyright Office in Washington D.C. for a small fee. However, works do not have to be registered in order to be copyright protected; an original work is copyright protected as it is created.
Generally, a copyright in a work created after Jan. 1, 1978 lasts for the life of the owner, plus 70 years after his or her death. Only the owner of a copyright-protected work may authorize adaptations, distribute copies, perform, display, and copy his or her work. It is important to note that copyright does not protect facts, ideas, systems, or methods of operation, although it may protect the manner in which these things are expressed.
What about emergencies?
"But, it was an emergency. Our soloist became ill and the choir had to perform. We didn't have enough copies of the music for all the choir members."
It's up to the individual to define an "emergency" situation that he or she believes has justified improper copying. But, emergencies do not justify breaking the law; illegal is illegal. And, if you find that recurring emergencies require copying someone else's material, perhaps you need to call a timeout and take an honest look at your planning -- and your practices.
Some people operate with the attitude that they will do something and then apologize, because it's easier to do that than to get permission in the first place. Ethically, that's an improper attitude for anyone to have. At its worst, it's inexcusable for a Christian.
If you are using material from an individual or organization and don't know if you have the right to use it, chances are pretty good that you don't. What can you do? That's easy: contact the owner of the material and get permission before using it.
Often, all that many copyright holders require for you to use their materials is simply to use the material in its entirety [without inappropriate editing], give full credit, and don't use it for commercial purposes. That's not too much to ask. Wouldn't you want the same respect given to your work? But, the point is, you must always ask.
It's difficult to imagine that a church would knowingly break any law that was not contrary to God's Word. But unfortunately it happens regularly. Every Sunday, in churches across America, thousands of pieces of photocopied music are used without granting the author the financial compensation that is due to him or her.
Need help with this? In return for a yearly fee, a company called Christian Copyright Licensing Inc. (CCLI) offers churches blanket permissions to use certain copyrighted music materials. CCLI can be contacted by phone at 1-800-234-2446.
And, if this article has raised any questions (or pricked a conscience or two) the Library of Congress maintains a Web site where all pertinent copyright information that your church might need is available.
And, by the way, it is the Lord's work. Let's be sure we do it honestly and honorably.
-Pastors.com-
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We use CCLI. It's the right way to make sure that artists and composers get the money for which they have worked and are entitled to receive.
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as long as it is not for an profit.. then it shouldn't be a problem.. i mean the black church music dept is built on hand outs missing sections of hymn books as well as copies of music..lol
if not, then all churches break the law for covering songs.. each Sunday but that is not the case
Now, if there is a booth at the revival with fish plates and cd's of Smokie and the new Marvin Sapp then we have issues..
but I think when John P Kee begans to write he knows that his music is going to be copied for the lead of that church as well as the musicians if they don't have the cd.. so in return, the pupose of the song is achieved.. someone is truly blessed.. or a soul is saved..
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:idea: I agree with Dredakyst, I don't see anything wrong with making as long as money is involved. If someone buys a CD it is his/ her own copy free to do whatever they want with it. Selling copyrighted material is wrong , but by people doing that it has helped artists advertise there music , and God's word is still going forth. I REPEAT I'M NOT SAYING THAT SELLING COPYRIGHTED MUSIC IS RIGHT!!
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Someone once said to me, any artist who puts blocks on their CD's etc (to prevent copying) doesn't deserve their music to be bought. When i asked why they said that true artists/musicians should are in it for the love of music and would just want their music to be spread to as many people as possible and thats how he justified making copies. Now i aint sayin that he's right, but its just a thought.
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for example, Karen Clark-Sheards new album "The Heavens are Telling"
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Congress ruled that you can make actual copies of CDs for personal use. At one point and time, the Recording industry wanted every cassette tape taxed because they believe that people would use them to make copies of music. I'm not kidding and it took about 5 years for the courts to decide that it's ok. Photocopying music that will ultimately be sung at church on Sunday, isn't wrong in my book. I think that you are taking a song and glorifying God. You are not making a profit on it. In fact, it's quite the opposite. We've sang a song and I had people say, "What album was that on?" I would tell them and they would go pick it up. I think the problem with copyrighted music comes to play when you record an album and do not credit the writer. I've heard of some churches that will do a Praise and Worship album (it's the thing to do nowadays) and they are singing everyone else's stuff. That's not right. Either write your own songs or get permission. But for just standard singing, I don't think it's a problem.
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wow its amazing how times have changed.
I was with my sisters the other day and we wanted a particular song... So we paid $0.99 and just purchased it! But I do remember using napster and what not to find songs. and then making plenty of copies of said song ...
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Where the heck is Dredakyst? :-\ ?/?
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We use CCLI - but can't find many Gospel songs there...
:(
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Where the heck is Dredakyst? :-\ ?/?
yeah, forgot all about him
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Interesting topic,with some good responses/thoughts.
I think this shows the blurring on the lines between church/culture.the LAW,and law of the land.
Most people don't realize it;but my understanding is going back to the days of records etc.,is that you purchased a piece of plastic.On that record,there were ridges and grooves which when hooked up to a needle transmitted pre-recored sound.What you purchased,apart from the stores' profit,artists' and manufacturing costs was a "right". You had the "right" to play that record.Basicly,you entered into a contract without complete understanding or representation,because the recording industry and unions said so.There was NOT full disclosure,and even if there was -who would know/care/etc.? If you wanted the recored/performance-you bought it.You never "owned" the recording or performance.
There was +still is a need to compensate folks JUSTLY for their efforts/works.In the early stages,the progress of other methods and opportunities to self -record media as we know it today were unforeseen.On one hand,we have media technology developed that is distilled down to fuel another part of the same industry(recording devices) even to the point of creating new/competing industries.With a computer/software etc., for maybe $2k-you can do at home what would cost a LOT more $$$$$$$$$$$(every time) to record A song in a studio.Expanded technology has brought cost down and expanded acess to the average joe.Again,this was unforeseen;otherwise somebody would have tried to legislate it !!!!Hence -the efforts as noted above and repective court cases.
That's the line we have to walk in church,to err on the side of love.Men try to "law up" to protect/provide/control-forgetting WHO is in control.I think we should try and be dilligent about these issues without the psychosis of the world.Another worldly thing that needs to be out of the church.For our bros and sis IN the industry;I hope they would be encouraged that LORD sees who is stealing from them,and HE will repay(Both sides).
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Someone once said to me, any artist who puts blocks on their CD's etc (to prevent copying) doesn't deserve their music to be bought. When i asked why they said that true artists/musicians should are in it for the love of music and would just want their music to be spread to as many people as possible and thats how he justified making copies. Now i aint sayin that he's right, but its just a thought.
Does the person who said this go to work for the love of what THEY do or are they expecting a paycheck?
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point/set/match to FS !!!!! as always-when it comes to a buck,everybody wants a piece of the pie;hadn't changed from Cain + Able
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We use CCLI. It's the right way to make sure that artists and composers get the money for which they have worked and are entitled to receive.
So do we.
CCLI actually allows for a couple things, such as making a limited number of copies of music CDs that the team members require to learn songs and they also allow for you to record and sell (for $4 a disc last time I checked) the music portion of a service but only a total number of discs that is 1/5th the size of your congregation (1000 people = 200 discs).
There's a few other bonuses, too, like being able to get charts transposed in any key for free and getting lyrics in multiple formats.
The downside: a lot of Gospel tunes (for now, maybe) are not available through them.
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Irony alert...the starter of this thread "broke the Law" by posting that article about Copyright...
;)
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Irony alert...the starter of this thread "broke the Law" by posting that article about Copyright...
;)
:D
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Irony alert...the starter of this thread "broke the Law" by posting that article about Copyright...
;)
:D
Doh!!! I done did the same thing. >:(...Oh well, life goes on. Besides, how many of us break the law every day by not observing the posted speed limt among other things ;) (ok, maybe I just told on myself :D but I am trying to slow down though).
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Irony alert...the starter of this thread "broke the Law" by posting that article about Copyright...
;)
Nice, lol. :D
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Someone once said to me, any artist who puts blocks on their CD's etc (to prevent copying) doesn't deserve their music to be bought. When i asked why they said that true artists/musicians should are in it for the love of music and would just want their music to be spread to as many people as possible and thats how he justified making copies. Now i aint sayin that he's right, but its just a thought.
Man please. Love dont keep the lights on (hmm that might be a song idea).
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Man please. Love dont keep the lights on (hmm that might be a song idea).
Another song: You don't need the lights on for love. ;) :D