I am not an attorney, and RACER72 did not address the moral
issue. If I understand copyright laws, it is illegal to copy and
reproduce artwork for nonpersonal use. It is especially frowned
upon when such copying/reproduction is used for financial gain.
Your situation is akin to speeding. RACER72, in effect, is saying:
"Going 5 miles per hour over the speed limit in a 70 MPH speed
zone is technically illegal, but the police are most likely not going
to stop and ticket you." Is it moral to drive 5 miles over the
speed limit, but not 10 miles over?
Let's go back to copyrights and your question. The first thought
that came to my mind was: "What is the definition of copy and
reproduction?" In America, it is a tradition of the bride's parents
to "foot" the wedding bill for the couple being married, and many
of those weddings pay singers and musicians to "reproduce"
copyrighted lyrics and/or musical compositions via musical
instruments and/or voice. However, the U.S. Copyright Laws
state the definition of "copies" as:
""Copies" are material objects, other than phonorecords, in
which a work is fixed by any method now known or later
developed, and from which the work can be perceived,
reproduced, or otherwise communicated, either directly or
with the aid of a machine or device. The term "copies" includes
the material object, other than a phonorecord, in which the work
is first fixed."
The definition of "copies", as defined by the U.S. Copyright
laws, seems to indicate wedding musicians and singers are
not in violation of U.S. Copyright laws. However, what about
wedding videos? Are the musicans, singers, and/or "
videographers" infringing on copyright laws, especially when
several copies are made and sent to various family members?
I find it difficult to distinguish between wedding videos and
wedding CD favors!
I'm not finished. Are weddings strictly legal in nature? Many,
if not most weddings, are held in churches/synagogues/etc,
and weddings can be viewed as a religious ceremony. What
about receptions? Are they a religious ceremony? Are wedding
vows the only part of a wedding that can be considered as
religious in nature? If weddings are not performed in a
church/synagogue/etc and/or not performed by a clergyman/etc.,
can they no longer be considered a religious ceremony? If a
non-clergyman prays outside of a church, does the prayer have any less meaning?
If one believes in the concept of "separation of church and state",
one might argue it is morally okay and legally okay to do what
you are asking. But, you must ask yourself this question? Do
you feel you will be asking anyone, on your behalf, to steal what
is not rightfully theirs/yours?
Just before Christmas, my brother posted, on his personal
website. a photograph he had taken of our cousin. I down-
loaded the photograph to my computer, and added cartoons
and captions, and printed the results to give my cousin and
my brother. At the time, I did not feel guilty about doing so,
until I saw the reaction on my brother's face when he saw the
"doctored" picture, and after I started learning about copyright
laws.
Next Christmas, if I see another picture on my brother's website,
should I ask him, "Hey Good Brother, can I download a picture
off your website to give you for Christmas?"
Hope your wedding is beautiful!