[HANASHIR:2640] copyrights

[Erik L. F. Contzius <contzius...>]

I have mentioned this before on this listserv...

The Church Music Publishers Association has put together a wonderful and
comprehensive pamphlet called "The Church Musician and The Copyright Law."

For anyone on this list with questions about copyrights and RELIGIOUS music
specifically, you should go to the following website:

http://www.cmpamusic.org/copylink.html

below is the intro to this site and the questions it answers. Don't
creatively interpret the law for your own benefit or convenience. This is
important stuff! (don't mean to get so preachy [no pun intended] but this
issue centers around one of aseret hadibrot!)

have a ziessen pesakh.

-------------------------

Church Music Publishers Association

Guide to Copyright Information

On October 19, 1976, President Gerald R. Ford signed into law Public Law
94-553 setting forth the law of the land in regard to copyrights. This law
became effective January 1, 1978.

These links and the following information is designed to inform church
musicians, ministers and the laity of the provisions in this statute which
have particular application to the use of music and related print materials
in their respective ministries.

This guide does not presume to be a comprehensive summary of the Copyright
Act of 1976. It does not attempt to deal with all the laws covered by the
legislation, nor does it provide answers to many of the legal questions.

It is intended to assist in understanding the nature of copyright by the
users of church music to improve their ministries, to maintain a proper
standard of ethics, and to help protect themselves and their churches from
incurring liability or subjecting themselves to the possibility of being
embarrassed or even sued. The questions addressed are the ones which are
most frequently
asked by church musicians.

The Church Music Pulishers Association has prepared a videotape which
presents the essentials of copyright in dramatic form. This 30-minute VHS
tape is available on loan to churches, schools, or member publishers. For a
copy, or for further information, please contact CMPA at
(615) 791-0273 and leave a message.

WWW Sites with copyright information

       The Church Music Publishers Association copyright checklist

       The Church Music Copyright License

       The Music Publishers Association of America

       The Library of Congress

Questions church musicians ask:

     1.What Does "COPYRIGHT" Mean?
     2.What Are The Rights of Copyright Owners?
     3.Who Owns The Legal Right to Make Copies?
     4.Do Other Countries Have Copyright Laws?
     5.What If I'm Faced With A Special Situation?
     6.What If There's Not Time to Write?
     7.What About Photocopies or Tapes That Are Now In Our Church?
     8.Is It Permissible To Perform Copyrighted Religious Works In Church
     9.Can I Make An Original Recording of a Copyrighted Song?
    10.Can I Make A Record Or Tape Using A Pre-Recorded Instrumental
                Accompaniment Track?
    11.Must I Get Permission To:
© Make copies of copyrighted music?
© Print song books or songsheets containing copyrighted works and use them
in churches, Bible studies, or home prayer groups as long as they are not
sold?
© Make a transparency or slide of a copyrighted work for use by projector?
© Make a photocopy of a copyrighted work for my accompanist in order to
              sing a solo?

    12.Is There One Source I Can Use To Obtain Permission to Use Many
        Congregationally Sung Compositions?
    13.What If I Can't Find The Owner of a Copyrighted Song? Can I Go Ahead
And
        Use It
       Without Permission?
    14.But What About Out Of Print Items?
    15.What Is Public Domain?
    16.What Is Fair Use?
    17.Is It Permissible To Make Duplicates Of The Tape That Accompanies A
Musical Or Printed Work For "Learning" or "Rehearsal" ?
    18.If I Buy a Record, Is It Permissible To Make A Copy For A Friend?
    19.What Are The Penalties For Making Unauthorized Copies of Copyrighted
Music?
    20.What About Photocopiers Who Don't "Get Caught"?

------------------

erik l. f. contzius
contzius (at) home(dot)com
elkins park, pa
http://members.home.com/contzius/


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