Search

• Resources
• Apportionments Thank You Cards
• Assessment Tools
• Breaking News
• Bulletin Inserts
• Charge Conference Forms
• Church Video License
• Church Web Page Instructions
• Conference Lay Minister Program
• Cross and Flame
• Four Areas of Focus
• Igniting Ministry Attendance Tracking Forms
• Instructions for Uploading Video
• Interpreter Magazine
• Media Resource Center
• MissionInsite Demographics Instructions
• Multi-Media Presentation Guidelines
• Policies
• Rethink Church
• RSS Feed Instructions
• Safe Sanctuary
• TechShop
• The Upper Room
• UM General Agencies
• UMC.org
• Worship Resources (GBOD)

printer-friendly email a friend

Church Video License

By law, as well as by intent, videos that are available in stores and rental outlets throughout the United States are for home use only.

The Copyright Act of 1976 is pretty clear about non-home showings: if a video does not carry with it the right "to perform the copyrighted work publicly," it is illegal to show it!

The bottom line: Anyone wishing to engage in non-home showings of videos must secure licenses to do so. Failing to do so can mean you and your church could face substantial civil damages of between $750 and $20,000.

But you don't have to close down Movie Night just yet! Cal-Nevada has purchased an umbrella video license through CVLI ... that offers protection to Conference churches at a substantial savings over the cost of obtaining such a license on their own. Part of your Apportionment dollars at work! 

What is CVLI?

CVLI is an independent licensing agency formed in June 2001 by Christian Copyright Licensing International (CCLI) and the Motion Picture Licensing Corporation (MPLC). It works with non-profit groups such as churches, religious schools and other church-operated sites that show video material, to provide an annual license that covers a huge database of films supplied by Hollywood studios and independent producers.

Is my church covered?

Every year the Conference Communications Office sends out renewal letters to remind and encourage churches to renew their license for the new CVLI year that begins April 1. The following is the list of our churches that have renewed or added CVLI coverage for the April 1, 2009 to March 31, 2010 year:

If your church was licensed last year (view list here), but is not on this list, please renew its coverage immediately. Your church will pay the same fee for coverage in 2009 that it did in 2008.

How do we obtain coverage?

If your church was not licensed last year, the fee for the annual license (effective April 1, 2009-March 31, 2010) is $168 ($169 if a childcare facility needs to be included in the coverage). Make your check payable to the Cal-Nev Annual Conference of the UMC and mail to P.O. Box 980250, West Sacramento, CA 95798, Attention: Jane. 

Please contact Jane Horstman in the Communications Office at janeh@calnevumc.org or  (916) 374-1518  if you have additional questions. (For churches with more than 500 members the cost is slightly higher.)

Link here for additional info on video copyright and licensing: http://archives.umc.org/interior.asp?ptid=1&mid=7299.

What about music licensing?

The Conference does not offer an umbrella license for music licensing, so churches must obtain that coverage on their own.

The companies most commonly used are Christian Copyright Licensing International (CCLI), OneLicense, and LicenSing. In 2005, the General Board of Discipleship compiled a chart comparing the three, which your church may find useful. You may download it at http://www.gbod.org/worship/Licensing.pdf.

You may also find it useful to read postings compiled by ChoralNet.org. On that organization's website, click on the word "Resources" at the top or bottom of the Home Page. When the Resources and Links page opens, click on "Church Music," then click on the link to "Different Copyright licensing agencies for churches."

Visit the websites at ccli.com, onelicense.net, and licsensingonline.org , to get, current pricing and other information.

Calendar

What's New