Re: [Worship] Copyright & CCLI

["Alan Seeger" <alan@psalmist.net>]

>I wondered if there are some resources that could help explain the
>copyright issues as it pertains to the church. I've been on the CCLI's web
>site but the Q&A seemed sort of vague. Are there resources that explain the
>use of songs and copying them for church use that would explain things in a
>manner  which one of little knowledge in this area can understand. My
>pastor is under the impression we can freely copy pages out of the
>Integrity song books for team players booklets and I am under the
>impression we can't just copy them at random without permission.

Here's the pertinent info from the CCLI website:
================================

The copyright law is very clear on copying music. If you do not have express
permission from the rightful owner of the song, you can not make a copy. (It
is advisable to have that permission in writing in case of need for legal
reference.) There have been a number of copyright disputes, although most
have been settled privately. You can imagine how uncomfortable it is for a
Christian songwriter to address legal entanglements with a church.

Some church music leaders have made efforts to honor the law and have tried
to obtain permission first from the copyright owner before making copies.
This is often a time-consuming challenge and in many cases an administrative
nightmare.

Many have agreed -- the copyright law is fair but not practical. That's why
more than 100,000 churches are taking advantage of the Church Copyright
License from CCLI.

================================

CCLI is the best, fairest way of dealing with this situation. Every church,
IMHO, should have a CCLI license.

Alan Seeger - alan@psalmist.net - ICQ# 824649
Psalmist Internet - http://www.psalmist.net
Web hosting for the Christian musician

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