Church services and copyright

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JW
Posts: 852
Joined: Sat Mar 03, 2007 8:46 am
Location: Kent

Re: Church services and copyright

Post by JW »

Thanks for your comment SC. Weddings are indeed an issue and are discussed elsewhere and the document is aimed principally at weddings BUT I believe it also applies to any church service. I think that too many unofficial recordings of musicians are made during church services (not only weddings/funerals) without permission or knowledge of the musicians. Those musicians then have no say over how the recording is used or who views it. So, for example, the cantor (possibly a young confirmation candidate) who makes a mistake when singing the psalm on a Sunday may find that the recording has been broadcast without knowledge or permission. If everyone is told in advance that the service is broadcast, then there is no problem; musicians who object can decide whether to withdraw (assuming they have not signed over their broadcasting rights in any contract of employment). The entitlement to a fee (which I always waive) reinforces the fact that performances can't be recorded willy nilly. However, I suspect that the Church Militant is some way behind as far as its legal obligations are concerned here: you have already mentioned the question of safeguarding.

HallamPhil's opening post asked for advice on the legal/copyright implications for live feed transmissions and I thought that I was responding to this request - sorry if I wasn't!
JW
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