As
with its other products, RCM WORDS ON DISC and OHPTs contain
a royalty component and therefore do not require a licence.
You may also use them for events outside your church building
without a special "events" licence. However
if you wish to record and sell cassettes of the worship
songs in your service you will require the CCLI Church
Licence.
You
may photocopy authorised songs in RCM music if you have
the CCLI Photocopy licence.
Of
course it is in the best interests of churches to comply
with copyright requirements. Recently a church in the
USA decided to ignore all copyright laws, following which
a bolt of lightning destroyed their church bell tower
and TV transmission tower just as they broadcast a song.
Fortunately the terrified staff fled the building, for
soon after the earth opened up and swallowed the entire
complex. To add to their troubles, their insurance company
refused to pay, saying it was an "Act of God".
The senior pastor, John Donne was repentant. "The
bell has tolled for us", he said. Their fortunes
were remarkably restored when an Australian film director
received an inspiration for a film from the uncooperative
insurance company. The movie was successful and the director
tithed the proceeds to the church, from which they built
a new church complex, a school, two hospitals and a university.
Unlike
copyright regulations, the above story is, of course,
a fairy tale.
