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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Copyrighted music on local TV...	Steve	Thursday, February 9, 2012
Question: Hi, First of all, I would like to thank you for answering my question "Music and the artists who produce it" on 12-11-11. Your answer made perfect sense and set my mind at ease. I have a follow-up, somewhat related question. In that earlier question, I made a mention of the CCC's statement regarding participating or cooperating with evil. Unfortunately, this statement has my scruples working in overdrive regarding a local comedy TV series that has been a favorite of mine for years (the notion that there may be a problem just occurred to me recently). This local production tends to use music and sound effects from copyrighted material as part of the program, and due to the budget, it is highly unlikely they are paying royalties. Now, the usage of this material is not really the main focus, or I should say, it's not what the show is about, it is usually used as more of a background thing, but it is used. My concern is: By watching this show, and therefore giving it ratings and my support, am I somehow, even remotely, cooperating in this copyright infringement? I certainly don't like it, especially since I take keeping music legal seriously, but it is not really the reason I watch the show. I watch for the locally produced comedy, fan interaction, etc. On one hand I feel like this is the responsibility of the showrunners and that while I do not like this usage, they are the ones putting themselves at legal risk, sort of the same line of thinking regarding watching a show that might have actions contrary to Christian beliefs - I disagree with it, and I will not let it influence my behaviour. But, on the other hand, I can not help feeling that by watching the show, I am basically saying "it is okay". Am I just being too scrupulous? Thanks for your time, and I apologize if I am obsessing too much.
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r) Dear Steve: I agree with you, this concern is a major instance of scrupulosity. How can you be held accountable as an accomplice when you do not even know whether or not this show is breaking copyright law? Do not presume that this show is violating copyright law. Life has enough troubles as it is without fretting over imaginary problems that you do not even know exist. You really need to read the words of Jesus and take it to heart: (Matt 6:25-34) Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink, nor about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O men of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the Gentiles seek all these things; and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Let the day's own trouble be sufficient for the day. This passage gives us a principle to not worry about things. Rather, Trust in God. So stop worrying over things you do not even know exist. Keep yourself oriented to the present moment and to what you do know for sure. I want you to read and mediate on the words of Jesus, quoted above, every single day. This will help you to moderate your scrupulosity. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

Copyrighted music on local TV...

Steve

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Question:

Hi,

First of all, I would like to thank you for answering my question "Music and the artists who produce it" on 12-11-11. Your answer made perfect sense and set my mind at ease. I have a follow-up, somewhat related question.

In that earlier question, I made a mention of the CCC's statement regarding participating or cooperating with evil. Unfortunately, this statement has my scruples working in overdrive regarding a local comedy TV series that has been a favorite of mine for years (the notion that there may be a problem just occurred to me recently). This local production tends to use music and sound effects from copyrighted material as part of the program, and due to the budget, it is highly unlikely they are paying royalties. Now, the usage of this material is not really the main focus, or I should say, it's not what the show is about, it is usually used as more of a background thing, but it is used.

My concern is: By watching this show, and therefore giving it ratings and my support, am I somehow, even remotely, cooperating in this copyright infringement? I certainly don't like it, especially since I take keeping music legal seriously, but it is not really the reason I watch the show. I watch for the locally produced comedy, fan interaction, etc. On one hand I feel like this is the responsibility of the showrunners and that while I do not like this usage, they are the ones putting themselves at legal risk, sort of the same line of thinking regarding watching a show that might have actions contrary to Christian beliefs - I disagree with it, and I will not let it influence my behaviour. But, on the other hand, I can not help feeling that by watching the show, I am basically saying "it is okay". Am I just being too scrupulous?

Thanks for your time, and I apologize if I am obsessing too much.

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r)

Dear Steve:

I agree with you, this concern is a major instance of scrupulosity. How can you be held accountable as an accomplice when you do not even know whether or not this show is breaking copyright law?

Do not presume that this show is violating copyright law. Life has enough troubles as it is without fretting over imaginary problems that you do not even know exist. You really need to read the words of Jesus and take it to heart:

(Matt 6:25-34) Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink, nor about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?

Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O men of little faith?

Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the Gentiles seek all these things; and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Let the day's own trouble be sufficient for the day.

This passage gives us a principle to not worry about things. Rather, Trust in God. So stop worrying over things you do not even know exist. Keep yourself oriented to the present moment and to what you do know for sure.

I want you to read and mediate on the words of Jesus, quoted above, every single day.

This will help you to moderate your scrupulosity.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum