Since we’ve been educated that the word of God, once it is ‘expressed’ in some art form, can be copyrighted, the series of questions I bring to the tables of our arts and entertainment polymaths are; should churches seek permission from gospel musicians before performing their songs? Or should churches be made to pay royalties to gospel musicians?
During the year 2012 presidential polls, Pastor Mensah Otabil – founder of International Central Gospel Church ICGC accused education advocacy group called Education Watch for infringing upon his copyrighted work – his church sermon.
In a communiqué from the communication team of ICGC to the media, the church claimed: “they (Education Watch) should have sought permission from the pastor before doing so because it’s (the sermon on CD) a copyrighted work from the man of God.”
I am not interest in who was right or wrong, neither is this feature purported at resurrecting the case or get even at the man of God. As a showbiz person, my interest in the dead story is the logic and principle Pastor Mensah Otabil stood for and how it jaunts into arts and entertainment.
If the revered man of God said his recorded sermons stored on CDs are copyrighted and thus no one can use them for any purpose without his permission, then shouldn’t churches also seek permission from gospel musicians or pay royalties to them before performing their songs in church?
Gospel musicians also compose, write, engineer, store their music on CDs and finally copyright them. We all know majority of churches perform gospel music in their various churches without seeking any permission from the right owners (gospel musicians).
As a religious ultra, I don’t believe the word of God should be traded or should be considered for commerce; but the fact that ‘Passion of Christ’ is a religious story from the Bible, scripted and directed by Mel Gibson to visually narrate the word of God is a copyrighted product, makes me feel Pastor Mensah Otabil’s casuistry could be right on copyright of his sermons!
Two years ago, authorities of the Pentecostal church in Ghana were on the neck of celebrated female gospel musician, Evangelist Diana Asamoah. They accused her for re-recording a song which belongs to the church.
Their claim was that the song is the churches’ intellectual property so the said musician should have sought permission from the church before performing or recording the song. The case even got to the Copyright Office of Ghana for arbitration.
“As far as I’m concerned, I only spread the word of God through music. I did not have any ill motives,” were the exact comments Diana Asamoah emitted amidst weeping.
Last year, Joyful Way Incorporated nearly dragged gospel musician, Joyce Blessing, to court for re-recording the former’s song without their permission. In fact they served management of Joyce Blessing a writ.
In an innocent defence, Joyce Blessing said “I’ve been hearing and singing this song in church when I was young. I did not know which church or person owned it. My management team were in the known when I was recording the song.”
Should churches start paying royalties to gospel musicians for performing their copyrighted songs in their churches? Is it feasible? Will it be against religious principles and doctrines?
GhanaCelebrities.Com is soliciting for opinions largely from religious or moral perspective, so let’s hear what you have to share. Until then…..MOTWUM!!