Responsibility in law

The law of copyright protects a person’s property:

• the deliberate abuse or theft of another’s physical property;
• the deliberate abuse or theft of another’s intellectual property:

Both these actions are immoral and wrong – so wrong that
both civil and criminal proceedings can be taken against
those who do infringe copyright. Fines can be very heavy
and damages considerable.

In a parish, it is the parish priest who is primarily responsible
for good practice. In a school, it is the governors who are
primarily responsible for good practice.

It does not matter if the priest or the governors do not
physically commit an infringement themselves. They have
authorised the act to have taken place on the premises.

Primary infringements of the law include:

• making unauthorised copies;
• distributing them;
• instructing others to do so.

Secondary infringements of the law include:

• possessing unauthorised copies;
• providing the copying equipment;
• allowing premises to be used for an illicit purpose.

Applying for licences is straightforward.

Licences do involve a certain amount of administration, but they are not expensive
and they make sure you are acting within the law.

Please get whatever licences you need for your premises and dispose of any unauthorised copies you might have.