Get Permission!
(used by permission of Group Publishing, www.group.com)
Let’s get formal for a moment…Copyrights (©) give exclusive privileges to reproduce, perform, or display a literary or artistic creation or its derivatives. Trademarks (TM) are distinctive mottos or emblems that are identified with a specific product.
How do copyrights and trademarks affect you? Well, you need to know how to properly photocopy sheet music, articles, and artwork; project song lyrics or words; show movies or videos to your group; use duplications or near copies of logos; and dub recorded music.
Getting permission to use copyright or trademark material is sometimes easy and inexpensive (even free!). First, look to see if the publisher or producer has already given you permission to photocopy or display the work. If not, you must generally check with the producer (a doctrine called “fair use” sometimes allows schools and other nonprofits to bypass this step). If you get permission, make sure you observe its limits. Don’t abuse the privilege!
Most Christian film and video distributors grant, with your rental, a one-time-only public performance license. If you ask, that license may be expanded to meet your needs. Warning: The words “home use only” on your purchased DVD may not cover showing it to your group in your family room!
And you must get permission before you record a worship service that features copyrighted (even out-of-print) songs. Often, I see Christian T-shirts or posters that copy well-known designs. Companies may welcome the “free advertisement,” but don’t assume. Ask first!
Some guidelines for asking permission:
- Be honest and specific about how you intend to use the items, including how you or your organization will benefit—financially or otherwise.
- If the answer is “no,” graciously abide by that decision. Then look for alternatives. For example, find an artist in your church who’ll create a totally new logo for your group. Also, plan ahead so you can include bulk orders of songbooks, small-group resources, and other “copy tempting” items in your youth budget.
- When you’ve received permission to use something, always display or include a short note that credits the original source.
By Drew Crislip
Here’s some additional info on using video clips:
Copyright Laws: The copyright doctrine of fair use permits certain uses of very brief excerpts from copyrighted materials for not-for-profit teaching purposes without permission. (All the video clips suggested at MinistryandMedia are less than three minutes long, unless noted.) If you have specific questions about your intended use of copyrighted materials, consult your church’s legal counsel. Your church can obtain a blanket licensing agreement from Christian Video Licensing International for an annual fee. Visit www.cvli.org, or call 888-771-2854 for information.
My thoughts:
While it’s easy to point at the big guys because of how they use their financial resources to sue and protect their work. But imagine this scenario (you can interpret it also for your art, writing, photography etc):
You’re a worship leader at your church and after a prayer meeting or reading your Bible you get inspired and write a song. You start singing it in church and someone tapes it and puts it on YouTube.
Then a popular worship leader and recording artist sees the video and decides to record it on his new CD.
He starts touring, selling CDs and then it starts being sung and recorded more then “Shout to the Lord” by every artist under the sun.
Making millions for the artists.
Then they write a devotional, that turns into a book and then a movie. Making millions more.
AND YOU GET NOTHING!!!
Copyright laws protect the little guy as well.
