Honest LDS Musicians
It’s embarrassing to write a post on this topic. By nature Latter-day Saints are people of integrity. The problem is, when it comes to obeying copyright laws, sometimes we’re not.
Someone moved the music in my ward building from a closet to the library. It was done carelessly and without order or organization so for the past few weeks a couple of us have been spending about 30 minutes each Sunday reorganizing the choir music. I came across some photocopied (illegal) music, the composer of which I’d heard through the grapevine had just lost his home to foreclosure. It made me sad to think how much had been taken from him in part due to LDS musicians who were too cheap or lazy to order legal copies of his music. Over the past several weeks I have destroyed hundreds of pages of photocopied music (illegal) in the meetinghouse library. I did the same a couple of years ago to an entire file box full of illegally copied music that was in my stake center library. The Church policy is “Church members should strictly observe all copyright laws”. The Church Handbook has specific instructions on following copyright procedures.
In the United States the following are expressly prohibited:
- Copying to avoid purchase
- Copying music for any kind of performance (but note the emergency exception below)
- Copying without including a copyright notice
- Copying to create anthologies or compilations
The fact that a work may be out of print does not mean that permission is given to copy and distribute that work. The music publishers’ trade associations have prepared a simple form for use in the procurement of out-of-print works. The form is available at www.menc.org
- Emergency copying to replace purchased copies which for any reason are not available for an imminent performance provided purchased replacement copies shall be substituted in due course
- Printed copies, which have been purchased, may be edited or simplified provided that the fundamental character of the work is not distorted or the lyrics altered or lyrics added if none exist
I happen to know several LDS composers and even the most talented are not getting rich off of their compositions. Composers get paid for each piece of music sold so photocopying their music is no different from stealing money right out of their paychecks. I believe as people of integrity it would be wise to avoid illegally photocopying music, especially for church use.
Just a note. I’m a choir director and I never photocopy illegally. I just try to get a lot of money from the bishopric’s budget! All members should obey copyright laws. It’s a law! And we believe in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law. from Lisa in Utah
Lisa Squires
June 10, 2012
My husband is a intellectual property attorney, meaning copyright, trademarks, and patents. He has represented people getting sued over this kind of stuff. I have cleaned tons of illegal papers out of many ward music closets as I’ve moved around the country. (I’m musical so I’m often the music chair or choir pianist/director). It’s ridiculous.
agcleere
June 1, 2014