Copyright “gotchas” in Online and Hybrid Worship

I concluded my last column by promising you something “fun and techy” for next time.  Well, my apologies, I don’t think this quite qualifies. 

After a recent seminar (online, of course) I was asked the following question by one of the participants.

“I didn’t quite understand in the [ … ] tutorial about how we can get prosecuted using YouTube™.  Please can you enlighten me?”

The participants of the seminar had been discussing the downloading of YouTube clips for incorporation in an online worship experience.  The issue is much broader than just YouTube, though YouTube manages to put a few specific wrinkles on their part of it. 

Anyway, I started a response to my questioner and half-way though realised – this should be my next Touchstone article!

Let me start with a disclaimer – “I’m not an Intellectual Property Lawyer”.  I have learned a lot of stuff about copyright by necessity over the years and I offer these guidelines in good faith.  However, copyright is a dynamically changing environment with multiple nuances.  So, if you are using this article as the basis to make big decisions, please do some independent due diligence first.

The YouTube Trap

With YouTube, there are two big issues:

• 1 – The contract problem  

YouTube’s Terms and Conditions require content to be served by them. Downloading it breaks your agreement with YouTube, and you might also expose them to breaching their own agreements with content owners.

• 2 – The publication problem

By default, internet content is for private enjoyment. As soon as you show it in a Zoom, or at a service, you’re effectively publishing or broadcasting it. That’s what breaks copyright.

Performance Copyright? Oh yes.

Even if you’re not using YouTube, music comes with another wrinkle: performance rights. The rights to a specific performance — e.g. a singer’s rendition of a hymn — are separate from the rights to the words or tune.

“But we’ve got a CCLI licence!”

Yes. Many churches do. But it’s not a silver bullet.

The basic CCLI licence covers the reproduction of lyrics — either printed or projected — for use by your own congregation.

It does not cover:

• making recordings,
• sharing services on websites,
• or livestreaming.

To do that legally, you need more than the base licence.

Let’s run through some examples…

Scenario 1
In-person worship, PowerPoint of lyrics, live music from organist.
✅ If the songs are covered by CCLI, all good.

Scenario 2
Lockdown hits. You’re now on Zoom with lyrics shared via screen.
🟡 Probably fine — it’s a closed meeting with invited participants.

Scenario 3
You record the Zoom or stream it on your website (or YouTube/Facebook).
❌ Not OK. You’re now a publisher/broadcaster. You need a separate licence.

Scenario 4
Organist is injured. You add accompaniment MP3s to the PowerPoint.
🟡 It depends. What licence came with that accompaniment track?

Scenario 5
You switch out the dull legal track for the artist’s CD version.
❌ Definitely not OK — unless you’ve got the artist’s written permission, or the rights-holder’s.

What’s the fix?

CCLI offers a Streaming Licence add-on that helps cover online services and recordings. It’s not included by default — you’ll need to apply (and pay) separately.
Check at https://nz.ccli.com/copyright-licences/#church-licences.

Don’t forget images and prayers

Yes, lyrics are the headline issue. But everything you put in a PowerPoint — photos, art, responsive readings — needs to be treated with the same care.

That’s the super-simplified version – there are various ways you can get permission to use various media,  Licences are almost always available, but not usually without copious amounts of research, hard work, blood, sweat, tears and yes, money.  Almost always you have to make arrangements in advance and in writing.  Success is not guaranteed – pray hard!

(Reformatted Jul-2025)