Church Copyright License Summary

Welcome to the Church Copyright License program (“Program"). This summary gives an overview of the rights and benefits provided by the Program. Your understanding and adherence to the Program’s Master Terms of Agreement (the “Agreement") is necessary and important. The full Agreement can be found HERE. Capitalized terms that are not defined in this summary have the meaning given in the Agreement. By participating in the Program you agree to:

Permitted Activities

An active Agreement allows you to reproduce songs or make copies of song words and sheet music, or store songs on a computer for the purposes of digital projection to assist with congregational singing, in the following manner. You may:

• Copy Songs from hymnals, websites, chorus books and similar types of publications.
• Electronically store, retrieve and utilize Song files in computers, presentation software and similar resources to enable the visual projection of Songs.
• Print Songs in bulletins, liturgies, programs, service sheets and handouts, songbooks compiled by your church, transparency film sheets, and similar tangible forms where such Copies may be reused.
• Audio or video record church services, including worship songs played live for limited distribution, provided that:
  • Accompaniment tracks and artist or record label recordings of Songs may not be reproduced, and permission must be obtained directly from the producer;
  • The quantity made and distributed may not exceed fifteen percent (15%) of the Church Size identified under your Agreement; and
  • For each copy duplicated onto physical media such as a CD, DVD or USB drive, you may make a nominal charge up to the cost of production.
• Subject to the terms of the Agreement and provided that you ensure that all rights in Copies made under this provision are reserved by the copyright owner, and only where a published version is unavailable you may:
  • Make customized vocal and/or instrumental arrangements of Songs; or
  • Translate Song lyrics into another language.

All rights not specified in the Agreement are reserved to the copyright owner.

Streaming authorized Songs played or performed in your Church Services requires participation in the CCLI Streaming License™ program or direct permission from the copyright owners.

Activities Not Permitted

The Agreement has certain important and necessary limitations and you may not take an action that is not authorized under the Agreement, including:

• Charging a fee or receiving any form of compensation for any of the Permitted Activities or other activities authorized under the Agreement, except where specifically stated.
• Assigning or transferring any rights under your Agreement to any other Church or group.
• Distributing Copies of Songs for use outside of Church Services or renting or selling Copies of Songs for direct or indirect renumeration other than as expressly permitted under the Agreement.
• Copying or duplicating choral sheet music, cantatas, musicals, handbell music, keyboard music or arrangements, vocal solos, instrumental works or music education publications in any form.
• Altering or changing the lyrics, melody or fundamental character of any Song.
• The Program only grants rights to make copies of Songs and does not include any public performance rights for any Songs.

Song Validation

CCLI’s SongSelect validation process makes it easy to confirm if a Song is authorized under the Program.

Simply visit SongSelect and enter the song title in the search box. If your initial search results don’t include the song you are looking for, check the box next to “Expand search to show all songs" for more results. Find a match and you’re good to go. If you don’t find a match, it’s likely the song is not covered by the Program.

To confirm if a publisher catalog is authorized under the Program, search the Copyright License – Covered Catalogs list at https://ccli.com/copyright-owners-lists.

When in doubt, CCLI’s Customer Service is ready to help.

Essential Information

License Renewal
To ensure continuous coverage, you must renew your Agreement annually, prior to the expiration date. A renewal notice will be sent approximately 45 days before expiration for your convenience. All terms are in effect only when the Agreement is active. If the Agreement is not renewed, all rights are terminated effective on the expiration date, and all song Copies made under the Agreement must be destroyed. Should you have questions or desire further information regarding this Program, please contact Customer Support.