Church, worship music and copyright law.

Darin · #1 02-12-2009, 11:02 PM

I had no idea. I'm sure most Christian's don't know about this, and certainly many worship leaders are not aware that playing most of the contemporary worship music and some older hymns that have been changed, even slightly to fall under the copyright law are in in violation every Sunday. I was made aware by a question I was asked about our Christian Battle of the bands. Apparently any band playing a song they didn't write is in violation. I wonder if this even covers sitting under a tree at the park with your acoustic?

http://www.brotherhoodmutual.com/saf...pyrightlaw.htm

http://www.gbod.org/worship/default....&item_id=41829

http://thinsoc.blogspot.com/2008/01/...ian-music.html

Thoughts?

kotornut · #2 02-12-2009, 11:23 PM

But I thought you had to record it for it to be a violation. Just like when anyband plays a cover live it's not a violation unless it's recorded without the permission of the copyright holder.

Foulacy · #3 02-12-2009, 11:32 PM

Idea: Don't be a christian.

callen3615 · #4 02-12-2009, 11:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Foulacy

Idea: Don't be a christian.

You got a problem with that?

kotornut · #5 02-12-2009, 11:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Foulacy

Idea: Don't be a christian.

If you don't like the topic then don't comment in the thread.

callen3615 · #6 02-13-2009, 12:00 AM

My point exactly.

callen3615 · #7 02-13-2009, 12:03 AM

Anyway thats shenanigans, they should be able to play whatever they want. How does any kid playing a cover on youtube get away with that stuff then? HEY! This may be the end of all cover bands! YAY!!!!

kotornut · #8 02-13-2009, 12:05 AM

Yeah, I wouldn't go comment in an atheist thread uninvited to speak my opinions and about my faith just for the sake of Bible bashing.

And anywyas this is about the copyright laws of a certain style of music it's not really a religous debate. We are more worried about how every Sunday morning the potential for copyright infringement could be taking place.

Darin:

I also wonder if the copyright holders to worship music also have stated or implied that they give conscent for the song to be played in churches, church functions and so on.

callen3615 · #9 02-13-2009, 12:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kotornut

And anywyas this is about the copyright laws of a certain style of music it's not really a religous debate.

Exactly. So why would you post something like "dont be christian"????

Sorry I'm just confused.

callen3615 · #10 02-13-2009, 12:11 AM

Anyways....There is a church bluegrass band where I attend. They dont compose their own music. But then again it is bluegrass so maybe no one cares...

Sam D. · #11 02-13-2009, 12:20 AM

i remember my dad telling me that in some cases certain worship music rights must be purchased and in some cases said companies that you had to purchase the music from would send representatives to listen to the worship service.... but i think that had to do with churches using ONLY this certain companies songs... you couldn't use any others (save for hymnals)... im glad the church we used to go to never got into that

shogun · #12 02-13-2009, 12:37 AM

interesting..... verrrrrrrrry interesting...

kotornut · #13 02-13-2009, 12:46 AM

Every church I have ever been to had no contracts or restrictions on what worship songs or hymns you used. And I've led worship plenty of times too. I've never heard about any of this, except I know that one particular denomination charges to copy their chord sheets and song lyrics even though they are popular and frequently used songs in all protestant churches.

All the worship leaders I have ever known emailed or copied the music for me without question every time I asked. And all of them said the copyright info at the bottom.

I'm pretty sure conscent is given by the artist/holder for use in church and any non-proffit use. I can see why they would have a problem with the use of a song for a proffit.

Maybe, Darin, the battle of the bands had a cover charge and that's the difference. Churches don't charge people to come. Well at least I hope not, but in these days so many people are turning form the Bible and turning to their own devices.

mike570 · #14 02-13-2009, 07:33 AM

ANY time you perform another artists work without their permission you're technically at fault. The only time people really enforce it, though, is when money is made. In the case of a battle of the bands, maybe they believe songwriting is essential to the contest. In that kind of competition it might not be fair to cover someone else's material and possibly have people believe it's your work; regardless of whether you clarify it as such.
OR....
Maybe the church is worried that, since you're performing it in a "venue-like" form with an audience (arguably for pay if the donation plate is being passed around), that someone in the audience might find fault with that and sue the church and/or some of its members. IMO, only a real jerk would do something like that but, hey, you never know.
Club owners that allow live music SHOULD pay ASCAP and BMI fees for the cover music that might be performed in their establishment. Some don't and skirt the rules. I'm not sure how the law applies to churches; if it does at all.

callen3615 · #15 02-13-2009, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kotornut

In these days so many people are turning form the Bible and turning to their own devices.

Haha shouldn't that be the other way around?

Anyway, I don't think this should be a big deal. It could be an attack on the church or just someone wanting credit where its due. BUT I don't see any artist suing a church for the use of their music, unless the church uses a joe satriani song, or one of the church bands claimed it was their work.