Religious Services
There is a Religious Exemption to US Copyright Law that states that works can be performed in religious ceremonies. This exemption does NOT extend to copying the performance. We can sing anything in our service, but we cannot record it or make copies of the printed material. This is why our UUFH orders of service have this statement: “Please do not video or otherwise record UUFH worship services.”
Non-religious Services
The Religious Exemption applies only to religious services like our weekly worship, weddings, and memorials. There is a similar Non-Profit Exemption but it applies only if no one is being compensated by or benefiting financially from the performance. Otherwise, any form of copying including performance is a violation of Copyright Law.
For that reason, the UUFH Concert Committee has a license agreement with the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP). The agreement allows the performance of copyrighted music created by members of ASCAP. This assures performances like Bluegrass to Bach do not violate Copyright Law. This license allows performance but not other forms of copying.
— Richard Maybin, Music Committee