United Church of God is encouraging its members who are singing in Feast of Tabernacles choirs at Feast sites to photocopy the sheet music they will be singing from. Instead of UCG doing what is morally right, purchasing the sheet music for the choirs, it is telling members to commit an illegal act.
Is UCG so financially strapped that they cannot spend a few hundred/thousand dollars on some sheet music? They can spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on failed ad campaigns, office redecorating, personal appearances, and playground equipment, but they cannot buy some sheet music. Isn't that what the non-biblical 3rd tithe you collect is supposedly for?
In the UCG post previously, United Church of God: Continues To Struggle On How to Remain Relevant In The 21st Century the following comments were made:
Feastgoer said...
A stunning sign of $$ troubles in UCG right now is the request at one Feast site for all choir members to print out the sheet music, and carry it with them to the Feast.Another comment was made:
Is there not enough "Tithe of the Tithe" to purchase songs?
If UCG sent out an e-mail requesting that people violate copyright, the statutory penalty is $500 - $20,000 per violation, but rises to $100,000 if the violation can be shown to be willful.A quick internet search finds this:
If music stores or orchestra leaders could simply buy one copy of sheet music and photocopy it for all their customers or band members, the composer and publishing house would not be able to make a living and create more unique music. Copyright laws protect composers and music publisher's rights; it is a violation of copyright law to reproduce sheet music without permission from the copyright holder.
Copying
The copyright owner of a piece of sheet music owns the sole right to copy and distribute that sheet music including both the notes and words contained on it, according to the U.S. Copyright Office. Copying sheet music either by photocopier, scanner or by hand, or copying out any individual part or voice from that music without the express permission of the copyright owner is a copyright law violation. Illegal photocopying significantly diminishes the income of music composers, arrangers and publishers, according to the Music Publishers Association of the United States. Copyright violators may be sued for monetary damages. Sheet Music Copyright Laws