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Christian Copyright Solutions makes copyrights
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Thanks to bipartisan action in the U.S. Senate last winter, churches will be allowed to legally show Super Bowl 2009 in their facilities. Senators Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Arlen Specter (D-PA) brandished enough political ire to elicit a favorable response on Feb. 19, 2008 from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell that will now allow churches to legally host this year’s Super Bowl events.
In a letter to Sen. Hatch, Goodell said that the NFL would not object to "live showings – regardless of screen size – of the Super Bowl" by religious organizations (as long as admission is not charged and the showings are on premises that the church uses on a "routine and customary" basis), according to The Washington Post.
Sen. Specter had introduced a bill (S2591) Feb. 4, 2008 proposing to amend chapter 1 of title 17, United States Code, to provide an exemption from exclusive rights in copyright for certain nonprofit organizations to display live football games, and "for other purposes."
It took only 13 months—this is “lightning speed” in the world of copyright deliberations—to render a positive solution. Here’s the stat sheet on how things unraveled. Just prior to the 2007 Super Bowl, the NFL intercepted an Indiana
congregation's plans to host a Super Bowl party Feb. 4, leading many churches
nationwide to abruptly drop their Super Bowl events and tackle the issue of
potential copyright infringements.
The controversy blitzed churches when NFL officials spotted a promotion of Fall Creek Baptist Church's "Super Bowl Bash" on the church's web site in January 2007 and overnighted a letter to the pastor demanding the party be canceled. Pastor John D. Newland said his church would not break the law. The NFL did not change their position for Super Bowl 2008, and warned that it would consider legal action if any church allowed a public viewing on TVs larger than 55 inches (this limitation is stated in the Copyright Law).
While other churches ignored and defied the threat of legal action and showed the game Sunday, the NFL's warning generated a stream of fiery cyber dialogue about churches and copyright issues. Many church leaders were left wondering what other type of church activities may involve illegal use of copyrighted material.
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