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The Answers
What is a General Public License?
The concept is similar to Public Domain, which allows the general
public to freely use a work (song, book, video, etc.). The difference is this - a
work that is in the Public Domain can be slightly changed and then copyrighted to a new
author. A GPL, however, allows the same free public use of a work but
restricts third parties from making slight changes and then obtaining a copyright for their
slightly changed work. Simply put, a GPL keeps free works even freer!!!
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Are General Public Licenses Legal?
YES!!! The first widely used GPL was created to protect the
code for the now popular software Linux (GNU GPL). Several well known, major computer
companies exclusively install Linux software on the networks they sell. Linux is
widely recognized as a better networking software than anything any copyrighted software
creator currently produces. Because this software is free and yet protected from
theft, programmers from all over the world pooled their intellectual resources to create
something the general public (including you) owns.
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Why was the NC General Public License Created?
To this point General Public Licenses have only been used to protect the
free use of software. The author of the NC General Public License wanted to create a
GPL that allowed the free use of songs and safeguarded them from being slightly changed,
copyrighted and then restricted. The term ‘work’ was used instead of song
allowing this license to cover other creative works such as written works, CD’s, videos,
art, etc. Until 1998 the author of this License released his songs into the Public
Domain based on his desire to give away his alabaster box of worship. Although there
were significant drawbacks to doing this, it seemed to be the only way possible to give the
general public free access to his songs. In 1998 the Congress of the United States
drastically changed copyright laws, stalling for 20 years, any work from entering the
Public Domain. For these and many other reasons the author felt an alternative method
had to be found.
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How Was the NC General Public License Created?
From 1998 to 2000 the author of the NC GPL conducted extensive research
on finding or creating a legal way to protect songs while releasing them for free general
public use. Consulting with several lawyers and corresponding with copyright and
public domain experts and scholars the consensus was that a GPL would be the most viable
way of accomplishing this. Using several other tested General Public License as a
pattern, the author, in consultation with this team, created a preliminary version of the
NC GPL. This preliminary version was then circulated among pastors, worship leaders,
musicians and lawyers to obtain any input they might have. In the end, a final version
was drafted that was registered with the Library of Congress.
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Why Use the NC General Public License to Protect Your Song?
The NC General Public License was created for those that want to protect
their songs from theft, but also want to freely release their songs for the general
public to use and modify. (Without any kind of legal protection, someone could
claim a song you wrote was theirs, copyright it and charge you to sing it. This has
happened to Christian songwriters in the past.)
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Are the songs and materials really free?
Yes! All of the songs and materials found on this site may be downloaded and used for
free in accordance with the NC General Public License.
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Do I need permission to use the songs?
No. You do not need permission to sing, record, produce or distribute any of the
songs found on this site. However, you are required to use the appropriate copyright
statement found in the How to Apply These Terms section
of the NCGPL.
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Can I record the songs for a CD?
Yes, in fact we encourage it, simply follow the guidelines outlined in the How
to Apply These Terms section of the NCGPL. There are no royalties to pay,
no contracts to negotiate, and no permissions to seek. We would love to hear from you
though, should you feel so inclined. Currently there half a dozen or so CD's
completed or in the works, that we know of, using at least one NCGPL song.
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What about royalties?
Works licensed under the NC General Public License have no royalties or costs
associated with them. They are completely free to record, play, or distribute under
the terms of the NCGPL. The only compensation generated
from the use of an NCGPL song, is through the sale of the work on which it was used.
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Am I allowed to translate the songs into another language?
Yes, and this is highly encouraged. Several songs have been translated into
Russian, Spanish, Ukrainian, and most recently Japanese.
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What is "The Alabaster Copyright"?
This NC General Public License has been nicknamed "The Alabaster Copyright" because
the freedom it
provides mimics the stories in the Bible of the woman with the alabaster box.
The arguments against the NC GPL also mirror the arguments of the crowd, the disciples and
Judas Iscariot when they criticized the woman with the alabaster box for "wasting" her
perfume of worship.
A Modern Rendition Of Matthew 26:6-13 might read like this:
6And when Jesus was in America at His Father’s House, 7His Church came to Him
having an alabaster flask of very costly fragrant oil of Worship, and she poured it on His
head as He sat in her midst. 8But when some in His Church saw it, they were
indignant, saying, “Why this waste? 9For this fragrant oil of Worship might
have been sold for much and given to reach the lost.” 10But when Jesus
was aware of it, He said to them, "Why do you trouble My Church?
For she has done a good work for Me. For you have the lost with you always, but Me you do not
have always.12For in pouring this fragrant oil of Worship on My body, she did it for
My Second Coming.13Assuredly, I say to you, for eternity, what My Church
has done for Me will also be told as a memorial to her."
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