The Copyright Law

PrintPreview

1 of 1

http://www.crown.org/LIBRARY/PrintPreview.aspx?ArticleId=526

Location: Legal

The Copyright Law by Crown Financial Ministries Works created by an individual that are fixed in a tangible medium, such as the article you''re now reading, are protected from theft by the United States copyright laws. The law is intended to protect the "intellectual property" of authors, composers, and others. The Bible says, "Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due" (Romans 4:4). Breaking the copyright law denies the copyright holder fair compensation for his or her labor. In other words, breaking a copyright law is the same thing as stealing from the copyright holder. A work usually is copyrighted as soon as it is written, photographed, painted, programmed, or put into any tangible form. Original works may be registered with the U.S. Copyright Office in Washington D.C. for a small fee, but works do not have to be registered to be copyright protected. Generally, a copyright lasts for the life of the owner plus 70 years. Only the owners may authorize adaptations, distribute copies, perform, display, and copy their work. It is important to note that copyright does not protect facts, ideas, systems, or methods of operation, although it may protect the way these things are expressed. Conclusion If you are using material from an individual or organization and don't know if you have the rights to use it, contact the owner of the material and get permission first. In return for a yearly fee, Christian Copyright Licensing Inc. (CCLI) offers churches blanket permissions to use certain copyrighted music materials. CCLI can be contacted by phone toll free at 1-800-234-2446.

7/9/2008 9:34 PM