Copyright
When your worshipping community inserts song lyrics or images of lyrics and melody into worship aids such as bulletins, song sheets, booklets or projection slides, a copyright license is required. Most worshipping communities use these kinds of worship aids on occasions such as weddings, funerals, and sacramental celebrations. Some communities use these kinds of worship aids each week. Copyright licenses are also required for podcasting and live-streaming liturgy, as well as recording of musical works for practice purposes.
For more information on copyright and license requirements, see the following documents
The Role of Copyright in Repertoire Strategy
Not all copyright licenses are equal. The decision on which copyright license to use is strategic, impacting on a worshipping community's repertoire strategy.
One License (previously LicenSing Online) acquired the Word of Life International business and now covers the broadest range of Catholic liturgical music. It requires reporting of usage of songs for each occasion where worship aids containing lyrics or lyrics and melody are used. Liturgical Song is a Member Publisher with One License.
Christian Copyright Licensing International (CCLI) specialise in covering contemporary Christian praise and worship songs. They do not cover Catholic liturgical music such as Mass settings, responsorial psalms and other liturgical songs that use Catholic liturgical texts. Because the overwhelming majority of our song catalogue use Catholic liturgical texts, Liturgical Song is not a Partner Publisher with CCLI.
Catholic worshipping communities will have One License to cover their general worship aid production needs.
Which Liturgical Song Publications Can Be Copied and Reprinted?
All publications containing choral music, instrumental music, keyboard accompaniment or guitar accompaniment cannot be copied or reprinted. Each musician is expected to have an original publication, whether it is an ebook on an iPad or a printed edition or a digital download. The only publications that can be copied or reprinted are the "For Assemblies" publications and assembly digital downloads. Owners of these editions are authorised to copy or reprint the text or text and melody using a Church copyright license from One License, providing the usage of the songs is reported in the manner required by the copyright license provider.
Reporting
One License provides a website for weekly reporting of usage of songs where copied Lyrics or lyrics and melody have been inserted into a worship aid. One License makes reporting easy, by providing easy searching of items and creation of lists of regularly reported items.
