Showing Videos In Church
Video-sharing platforms such as YouTube offer a treasure trove of content for almost every conceivable situation. However, as the sheer volume of content and the number of channels increases, understanding if and when you can show this content in church becomes ever more challenging.
So is it okay to stream videos during your church services and activities?
Put simply, you should always have permission from the copyright owner, regardless of the source. CCLI recommends you always use official sources when you are playing copyrighted content.
Not all videos uploaded to video-sharing websites have been done so by, or with the permission of, the copyright owner or licensor. With a staggering number of videos being uploaded to the internet every minute, it is impossible for any platform to control or police the content being uploaded. It’s likely therefore that many of these videos infringe copyright, either accidentally or deliberately.
If you can find content that has been uploaded by an official source, the permission you need to show it may be obtained in a number of ways…
Scenes from films
The easiest way for churches and ministries to get permission to show authorised films and television programmes otherwise intended for personal, private use, is through the Church Video Licence™. In this case, the licence is considered as consent from the “respective licensor" (See authorised studios/producers).
Always confirm that the scene has been uploaded by the copyright owner or someone authorised by the owner. If the scene has been uploaded to the studio’s own channel, or that of an official partner, you can be confident you’re viewing content from an official source. Studios may have agreements with third parties to upload their content for them. In this case, check carefully that the channel is an official one.
If a scene has been uploaded by an individual, e.g. a fan of the movie, then it should not be deemed to be covered by the Church Video Licence and consequently it should not be shown during church activities.
Lyric videos
Lyric videos are song videos featuring lyrics that appear on screen in time with the vocal. They have become increasingly popular in churches when musicians aren't available. However, many lyric videos available on video-sharing websites such as YouTube are not authorised, and may not be suitable or legal for use in public worship services.
For this reason, CCLI has developed a range of lyric videos that are made specifically for churches. Available on SongSelect via an annual subscription, these videos are fully authorised for churches, and don't require any additional licence or permission to use them. As SongSelect Lyric Videos are purpose-built, they come in congregation-friendly keys, and feature a range of simple customisation options. These include the ability to change the text size and number of lines, colours and backgrounds, and even adjust the volume of the vocal.
Alternatively, sometimes song owners or their publishers provide lyric videos on their websites with details or permissions for how they can be used. Ultimately, wherever you source a lyric video, you should confirm that it has been uploaded with the owner's permission, and is authorised for use in public.
Other videos
As a general rule, CCLI recommends that you don’t show any other videos without the explicit permission of the copyright owner. Seeking their direct permission is the safest way to ensure that you’re acting legally and doing the right thing. If in doubt, or you can’t establish who owns the copyright, we suggest finding an alternative.
As always, our Customer Support team is here to help. Please contact us if you have any questions.