Are Prayers Copyrighted

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inomcoke

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I’m looking into making an app for the iPhone. Within the app will be a wide range of different prayers…Both commonly known ones (Hail Mary, Our Father, ect) and then also some more obscure ones or even custom written prayers.

My question is, are any/all prayers copyrighted or would I need permission from anyone to use the text of these prayers in an app?

Not sure if it matters or not but the app would either be free or $.99, I haven’t decided yet.

Thanks!
 
My guess would be they’re not. Those prayers were written long before copyright laws even existed, and I’m positive their authors are more than 50 years dead
 
Thank you. That’s what I figured as well but I don’t know much about copyrights or things like that so I figured I’d double check.
 
You do have to do your due dilligence, though. Most prayers (like the Bible) were written long ago but that does not mean their English translation is not under copyright.

If you are talking about the really common prayers (like the Our Father and Hail Mary), I cannot imagine it being an issue. But if you are going to have a more extensive app, you might need to double check.

I cannot imagine even the English translations of many traditional Catholic prayers being under copyright, but it’s better to err on the safe side.
 
Copyrights are good for the life of the author plus 70 years if created after 1978.

In the case of prayers, most are anonymous or published after the original author’s death. In that case a copyright lasts 95 years.
 
alwayslooking said:
Copyrights are good for the life of the author plus 70 years if created after 1978.

In the case of prayers, most are anonymous or published after the original author’s death. In that case a copyright lasts 95 years.
Click to expand...
The Anglican Church et al may hold copyrights to some English prayers.
 
inomcoke said:
I’m looking into making an app for the iPhone. Within the app will be a wide range of different prayers…Both commonly known ones (Hail Mary, Our Father, ect) and then also some more obscure ones or even custom written prayers.

My question is, are any/all prayers copyrighted ?
Click to expand...
I think the Lord’s Prayer and the Psalms are. 😃
 
Not to pour cold water on your idea inomcoke, but have you already checked the free “Laudate” app for iPhone and android? God Bless you with your endeavour though!
 
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