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Overview Authorized Liturgies Prayers for the People Lay Leadership in Worship Training Lay Leadership in Worship Resources Copyright

Copyright is the exclusive legal right to produce, reproduce, publish or perform an original literary, artistic, dramatic or musical work. The creator is usually the copyright owner. Copyright is usually temporary with a term of 50-70 years after the creator's death.

Music

In Canada, the copyright of a music work exists for the life of the composer plus an additional 50 years after their death. All music that falls under this timeline is protected when it comes to performing or reproducing copies.

The diocese does not have a blanket copyright license. Each parish is required to register and pay for their own copyright license. Most parishes use either OneLicense or Christian Copyright Licensing International (CCLI), depending on their preferences around music—each service licenses a different catalogue of music. Parishes are also required to report the music they use to their license provider, usually quarterly. 

Licenses and/or disclaimers are needed in the following situations:

  • For all protected music such as hymns or anthems (copyright is song-specific not publisher/book specific) used in services, whether they are live-streamed or not.

  • All protected texts even if the hymn tune is public domain. A hymn tune can be in public domain but the text copyrighted (or vice versa) which.

  • When using someone else’s youtube video.

Contact OneLicense for more information info@onelicense.net

Images

You will need permission from the creator or photographer to use images on your website or social media platforms. 

Steps to gain permission:

  1. Contact the creator or photographer and ask permission, describing how the photo will be used. Ask if they would like a photo credit added with it's use.

  2. Follow the instructions provided by the creator or photographer if granted permission. There will likely be conditions and a contract or permission form may be requested.

  3. If payment is requested by the creator or photographer, pay all fees associated with the image's use prior to using it.

There are a number of website providing background or event images for social media or websites for free or monthly subscriptions. Read all conditions carefully when using a subscription based system or images that are listed as free.

 Please Note: If an image is used incorrectly or without permission, you may be fined. Fines vary from as little as $200 to $1000 per image.

An example of a Photo Credit:

Photo Credit: J. Abram Photography