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Copyright Notice

​There is a certain formula one must use to create a “copyright notice” in your music. This is the copyright text found usually at the bottom of the first page of a musical composition. For your purpose as a liturgical composer, there are four basic components:

  1. Copyright and Date
    You can use the word “copyright” or the symbol ©. The date should simply be  the year your work was created (or several years representing original and new editions – these years would be separated by commas – Ex. 1990, 1997, 2004).

  2. Author’s Name
    This is the main part of a copyright. For liturgical music, there is always at least a text writer and music composer. This may be the same person/company, but isn’t always. There can also be an arranger. Although one can write these in any order, the traditional order is: (1) Text Writer, (2) Music Composer, (3) Arranger. 

  3. Publisher’s Name
    Since YOU are the publisher, you can simply write your own name or your company’s name as the publisher.

  4. Statement of Rights
    This is where you can let people know that what rights you’re holding onto with your copyright. Although there are several types of rights that copyright notices will have, most in our industry use the notice “All rights reserved.” This statement means that you keep all rights to your material. You will also commonly see the line “Used with permission.” This means you have obtained permission from someone else to publish something they own the copyrights to. 


To learn more about writing a copyright notice, please visit this useful website. Also remember to look at professional music being created in your field to see how the experts do it.  

Examples (General)

Original Text/Music
Text and Music © 20[–], [Your name and/or Publishing Co.]. All rights reserved.

Musical Arrangement of another’s Text
Text © 20[–], [Composer-Publisher]. All rights reserved. Used with permission. 
Music 
© 20[–], [Your name and/or Publishing Co]. All rights reserved.

Arrangement of another’s Text & Music (such as a hymn-tune)
Text © 20[–], [Composer-Publisher]. All rights reserved. Used with permission. 
Music 
© 20[–], [Composer-Publisher]. All rights reserved. Used with permission.
Arrangement 
© 20[–], [Your name and/or Publishing Co]. All rights reserved.

NOTE
“All rights reserved” means that the listed text or music is copyrighted and cannot be used unless permission is granted.
“Used with permission” means that you have obtained proper copyrights to use the listed text or music.

Examples (Mass Setting)

The Mass Setting is a compilation of several texts found in the Roman Missal (most of which are copyrighted by ICEL).  The following are not copyrighted by ICEL and need no copyright permissions:

ELLC (English Language Liturgical Consultation)

  • “Lord, have mercy” / Kyrie eleison
  • “Lamb of God” / Agnus Dei


​Public Domain

  • The Lord’s Prayer (Our Father)
  • Hail Mary


Below are the most common (a “full copyright” version and a “shortened” version, the latter usually found in an assembly format).

FULL COPYRIGHTS

Gloria/ Sanctus (Holy, Holy, Holy)/ Memorial Acclamation (A, B, and C)/ Doxology, Great Amen
Text excerpts from the English translation of the Roman Missal © 2010, ICEL. All rights reserved. Used with permission.
Music 
© 20[–], Mass of the [collection title], [Your name and/or Publishing Co]. All rights reserved.​

Gospel Acclamation
Text: The English translation of the Alleluia Verse from Lectionary for Mass © 1969, 1981, 1997, ICEL. All rights reserved. Used with permission. Music © 20[–], Mass of the [collection title], [Your name and/or Publishing Co]. All rights reserved.​

Lenten Gospel Acclamation
Text: The English translation of the Lenten Gospel Acclamation from Lectionary for Mass © 1969, 1981, 1997, ICEL. All rights reserved. Used with permission. Music © 20[–], Mass of the [collection title], [Your name and/or Publishing Co]. All rights reserved.

ELLC… although no copyright needed, suggests the following:

Kyrie
Text: English translation of Kyrie © 1988, ELLC. Used by permission. 
Music © 20[–], Mass of the [collection title], [Your name and/or Publishing Co]. All rights reserved.

Lord, Have Mercy
Text: English translation of Lord, Have Mercy © 1988, ELLC. Used by permission. 
Music © 20[–], Mass of the [collection title], [Your name and/or Publishing Co]. All rights reserved.

Lamb of God
Text: English translation of Lamb of God © 1988, ELLC. Used by permission. 
Music © 20[–], Mass of the [collection title], [Your name and/or Publishing Co]. All rights reserved.

SHORTENED COPYRIGHTS (Assembly Version)

Gloria/ Sanctus (Holy, Holy, Holy)/ Memorial Acclamation (A, B, and C)/ Doxology, Great Amen
Text © 2010, ICEL. All rights reserved. Used with permission.
Music 
© 20[–], Mass of the [collection title], [Your name and/or Publishing Co]. All rights reserved.​

Gospel Acclamation 
Verses text © 1969, 1981, 1997, ICEL. All rights reserved. Used with permission. 
Music © 20[–], Mass of the [collection title], [Your name and/or Publishing Co]. All rights reserved.​

Lenten Gospel Acclamation
Text © 1969, 1981, 1997, ICEL. All rights reserved. Used with permission.
Music 
© 20[–], Mass of the [collection title], [Your name and/or Publishing Co]. All rights reserved.

ELLC… although no copyright needed, suggests the following:

Kyrie/ Lord, Have Mercy/ Lamb of God
Text © 1988, ELLC. Used by permission. 
Music © 20[–], Mass of the [collection title], [Your name and/or Publishing Co]. All rights reserved.