Stealing and YouTube Background Music

[Defender23]

Hello everyone,

I have a bit of a complicated question about stealing and using music for online videos. I am the creator of an online superhero film series that is used to promote Catholicism to teenagers and college students. The series has done a lot to bring people closer to the Catholic faith. I’ve put a lot of time into it, and I feel as if it’s a part of my vocation.

However, in making this online film series, I have used a lot of professional music as background music for the series. Without this music, the series would be very dull, and it would not be nearly as attractive. I have bought all of the music that is used in the series, so I have not stolen this music (I purchased the CDs which the music is found on). However, legally speaking, I am not following copyright laws since I don’t have permission to use this music in public. However, I do give full credit to all the musicians whom I use in my videos.

I should mention that I don’t make a single penny off of my series. It’s put on the internet, and people watch it for free. So, while I haven’t stolen anything, I am infringing on copyright laws. Would the Catholic Church consider this sinful?

I should also mention that people are talking over most of these songs - they’re mostly used for background music while people are talking.

I’d hate to take the videos down, because I have put literally thousands of hours into editing and filming them and they continue to bring many young people closer to the faith, but I also don’t want to be in sin.

Sorry for such a lengthy explanation. Your help would be incredibly appreciated. Thanks again!

God Bless You,
Tony

 

[Operalan]

Curious—how would you feel if some new composers wanted to show off their new music on Youtube. The new music may or may not be religious–however, the really liked these videos of yours that you’ve found. Let’s say that they thought some of the visuals you’ve created really fit their music well. They decide to use your videos in conjunction with their music when the presented it on Youtube. How would you feel about that?

Blessings.

 

[Warrior1979]

I personally don’t think stealing something to bring people closer to faith is a good thing; i.e., the end doesn’t justify the means. This also definitely sets you up for a copyright lawsuit, regardless of whether or not you are making a profit.

There are several legal ways to do this. One is to obtain permission from the copyright owner. Another is to buy music/samples that are sold for this purpose.

 

[Defender23]

Curious—how would you feel if some new composers wanted to show off their new music on Youtube. The new music may or may not be religious–however, the really liked these videos of yours that you’ve found. Let’s say that they thought some of the visuals you’ve created really fit their music well. They decide to use your videos in conjunction with their music when the presented it on Youtube. How would you feel about that?

Blessings.

Operalan, thank you for the analogy! I will be sure to think of that and pray over it. That’s a good way to think about it. Thanks! And God Bless.

 

[Defender23]

I personally don’t think stealing something to bring people closer to faith is a good thing; i.e., the end doesn’t justify the means. This also definitely sets you up for a copyright lawsuit, regardless of whether or not you are making a profit.

There are several legal ways to do this. One is to obtain permission from the copyright owner. Another is to buy music/samples that are sold for this purpose.

Warrior: Thanks for your post! I understand your perspective, although I guess my question goes a little bit further back - I certainly agree with you that the ends never justify the means, although I’m still unsure of whether the Church would consider what I did ‘stealing.’ That is my main question. Do you think that the example I cited above would be considered by the Church ‘stealing’ the music? Recall that I have paid for the music, so I have not stolen it - what I am doing is simply using the music in my videos. I’m trying to determine if that is more of a moral matter or a legal matter - legally speaking, it’s violating copyright laws (although 95% of YouTube videos violate copyright laws - certainly that doesn’t necessarily make it right, though).

You make a good suggestion by mentioning that I purchase royalty free music software! Unfortunately though, I was not aware of this software at the time I made these videos and I have already put literally over 1,000 hours into editing the series.

One last interesting tidbit - members of the Vatican have recently said that copyrights are old medium for a new age, and that it is sometimes ‘ok’ for bloggers to ‘borrow’ copyrighted articles on their blogs - see this link:

catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1101744.htm

Highlighted quotes of this article: **"Another theme involved the use on blogs of copyrighted stories and photographs taken from news sites.

Mattia Marasco, author of “WikiCulture,” told the group that while it was right to acknowledge the source of material, copyrights are “an old model for a new media.”**

Father Vonhogen said professional journalists will have to get used to their material being taken, knowing that it amounts to free publicity and that if they are good journalists they will survive.

“If they steal some of your content, as long as you put out quality, you will make it,” he said.

So I guess I view this as a grey area. I certainly want to do the right thing, but I’m unsure as to whether the Church actually considers my situation as sinful or not. The above article seems to indicate that I haven’t done anything wrong with my film series and that copyrights in this regard are simply legal matters, but I’m still unsure.

Thanks so much for your post! I appreciate it.

 

[Warrior1979]

You make a good suggestion by mentioning that I purchase royalty free music software! Unfortunately though, I was not aware of this software at the time I made these videos and I have already put literally over 1,000 hours into editing the series.

Not software, but music. I happen to be a musician that has bought various sound and music samples. You’ll have to read the Use Agreements carefully. Some are for personal use, some for non-commercial, some are for commercial use, etc.

 

[Defender23]

Not software, but music. I happen to be a musician that has bought various sound and music samples. You’ll have to read the Use Agreements carefully. Some are for personal use, some for non-commercial, some are for commercial use, etc.

I see what you mean. Thanks again for the response! Perhaps in the distant future if I get the time I’ll go back and re-edit the videos, although it will take hundreds of hours. Although I’m still not quite sure if I’m convinced that what I’ve done is against the Church’s teachings. Certainly, above all things, I want to follow the Church’s teachings. But I want to be sure about what the Church teaches before doing anything drastic.

 

[Defender23]

Is anyone able to provide me with official Church teachings that shed light on this issue? Would the Church consider this stealing, or is it morally acceptable since I am not making money off of it in addition to giving credit to the musicians? The article I posted above seems to indicate that the Church does not always consider violating copyright law to be a sin, but I want to make sure I’m interpreting everything correctly.

 

[edwest2]

Here is a good article:

catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?recnum=3569

Peace,
Ed

 

[Defender23]

Here is a good article:

catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?recnum=3569

Peace,
Ed

Thanks for the article, Ed! Much appreciated! It was an interesting read. I think my situation is a bit different here, since I am not duplicating copies of music to distribute to others, but something a little different; not to mention that the Vatican article I listed above contained something a bit contrary to some of the information contained within this article (although it’s important to note that the article you found deals with physical material and distribution, while the Vatican article I listed above deals with digital blogging).

I’m likely not going to find an official Church teaching on the specific issue I’m talking about, but if I do find it, I’ll post it here so others may be aware. I would certainly be willing to follow the Church’s guidelines regardless of what they are, although I would like to hear something directly from the Church rather than individual opinions of laypeople. If anyone is aware of such official sources, please post them! Thanks again to those of you who have posted here! God Bless!

 

[Defender23]

I think I may have finally found a good answer! It looks like representatives of the Vatican gave a speech on Intellectual Property Rights last October. Archbishop Tomasi has stated that while artists are entitled to the acknowledgement of their work and a degree of monetary compensation, such work becomes a part of culture, and thus copyrights should not be enforced with excessive zeal. Here’s a direct quote:

“The raison d’être of the protection system of intellectual property is the promotion of literary, scientific or artistic production and, generally, of inventive activity for the sake of the “common good”. Thus protection officially attests the right of the author or inventor to recognition of the ownership of his work and to a degree of economic reward. At the same time it serves the cultural and material progress of society as a whole.”

The full address can be found at the Vatican’s official website here, but only in Italian:
vatican.va/roman_curia/secretariat_state/2010/documents/rc_seg-st_20100921_tomasi-ompi_it.html

However, an English translation (that appears to be correct) can be found here:
keionline.org/node/988

Also, an article explaining the address can be found here:
zeropaid.com/news/91194/vatican-criticizes-rich-countries-excessive-zeal-for-copyright-enforcement/

The above article expanded on the Vatican’s statement, saying: “Music, movies, and other copyrighted material doesn’t exist in a vacuum. After it’s released it becomes part of the cultural fabric of society, and then owned by the artist in name only. In some cases an artist’s work has shaped the consciousness of an entire country, generation, or those artists that follow, and it’s hardly proper to protect their work in a way that inhibits this flow.”

After reading this and praying over everything, I am pretty sure that I have not stolen. Since I have paid for the original music, and since I have acknowledged the original music composers, it would seem to me as if I have not stolen. The Vatican seems to recognize that music and other forms of art eventually become a part of culture, and that - while the original authors are certainly entitled to acknowledgment of ownership and a certain degree of economic reward - their material shouldn’t be guarded with excessive zeal. Thus, I think it appears that it’s acceptable for me to use my purchased music as background music. This is simply my own interpretation! If anyone disagrees, feel free to correct me. I want to make sure I’m going about this in a holy way. Thanks so much for helping me to sort through this important issue!

God Bless,
Tony