1. I purchased a soundtrack. Can I use this in my Audio Program?

Get written permission first, from the copyright holder, before using audio that is under copyright. For more information on copyright, please visit: 

http://www.copyright.gov

2. How can I find the copyright holder?

Check your source for copyright information located on the piece you are working from. This may be found on the sheet music, the hymnal page, or located on the CD label.

Copyright holders may be listed at performance societies: 

http://bmi.com, http://www.ascap.com, http://sesac.com or with a music licensure company: http://harryfox.com

The Directory of Music Publishers is an excellent resource to help in locating a music publisher.

3. My sermons contain music. Can I include the sermon with the music in my Audio Program?

Please check with ccli.com regarding their Church Copyright License:

http://ccli.com/US/WhatWeOffer/ChurchCopyrightLicenses/Overview.aspx

The Church Musician and the Copyright Law
Guidelines for the use of copyrighted music material

4. I've searched and cannot find the song. Could it be a public domain song?

Two resources to check for public domain songs are:

http://cyberhymnal.org has a listing of song lyrics along with the song history and a midi file.

http://vintagehymnals.com has a search available of song titles acquired from public domain hymnals.

This office is not permitted to give legal advice. If information or guidance is needed on matters such as disputes over the ownership of a copyright, suits against possible infringes, the procedure for getting a work published, or the method of obtaining royalty payments, it may be necessary to consult legal council.