copyright intellectual-property music
Sharing music PDF I purchased
<p>Let's say I purchased a piece of sheet music in PDF form from the author's website. I can't find anything on their website about licensing restrictions for downloads. Let's say I want to share the sheet music with other musicians at my church so that we can play it during the church service. [Edit: I do have permission to perform the song via <a href="https://us.ccli.com/copyright-license/" rel="nofollow noreferrer" title="CCLI">CCLI</a>.]</p>

<p>Am I allowed to share the electronic PDF with the musicians? Or the printed music? Or both/neither? Or is this a gray area?</p>

<p>As far as the CCLI license is concerned, it depends on the source. You can see the requirements in <a href="http://support.ccli.com/what-can-i-copy/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">this link</a>. The main points that you might not meet is that the sheet music must be used to assist <em>congregational</em> singing and must be from a source designated as such.</p>

<p>If your sheet music meets those requirements, then the CCLI <a href="http://support.ccli.com/what-is-covered-under-the-church-copyright-license-ccl/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">does allow</a> you to:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Create digital song files to share with your worship team.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>However, if it doesn't meet the requirements, then <a href="https://law.stackexchange.com/a/15502/3209">Dale M's answer</a> provides a good overview as to your options.</p>

<p>Assuming the copyright on the music has not expired (e.g. it's Lennon/McCarthy rather than Chopin) then you have whatever permission you bought plus fair use. Since there is no licence grant you just have fair use. Making an electronic backup is OK, so is printing it for personal use. Under first sale doctrine you could sell or give away your copy provided you delete/destroy all the copies you have.</p>
