Copyrights

Respecting and Protecting Copyrights

Click here to watch a 14-minute video that explains the guidelines public affairs councils should follow to respect and protect intellectual property belonging to the Church and others.

 

As called representatives of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, members of public affairs councils should always strive to project an image that is representative of their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. This image is communicated in many ways, such as in dress, in conversation, and in behavior. It is also projected in the quality of events and materials used to communicate the message of the Church.

Leaders of the Public Affairs Department are committed to following Church quality and legal standards in the production of items for public affairs use. Any item that officially represents the Church should be carefully prepared and be in compliance with Church correlation and copyright guidelines. This includes proper grammar and spelling, absolute accuracy in doctrinal and other factual statements, and compliance with copyright laws regarding any photographs, images, or quotations you might want to use. It is illegal to use copyrighted items without permission of the copyright holder.

Templates that adhere to the above standards are available on this site for some of the items you may wish to create. However, from time to time in the course of your public affairs service, you may find it necessary to create specialized materials such as a news release, flyer, poster, brochure, invitation, program, or other publication.

Copyrights

U.S. copyright law states that the creator of an item (the author, artist, composer, or photographer) automatically owns the copyright on that item. In most cases, others' work cannot be used without their written permission. Just because an image has been used in a Church magazine, handbook, or other product does not mean it is cleared for any and all use. In many cases, a fee was paid and special arrangements were made to use that image in that particular product. A library of images that have been cleared for use in Church products has been provided on this site. Any other image that you have not taken yourself, or for which you have not obtained written permission from the copyright owner, must be cleared by the Church Intellectual Property Office (IPO) if it is to be used in a Church product.

Photos You Take Yourself

You may find yourself taking documentary photographs of a public affairs activity. There will probably be people featured in the photos. In general, you are free to use these photos for up to one year in a news story directly related to the activity without any special permission. If, however, you wish to use a photograph in which people can readily be identified for other purposes (say, in a brochure), then you need to get written permission from each person who is recognizable in the photo.

Local laws generally provide that a person has legal rights to his or her own image. No one can take your picture and then use it for commercial purposes without your permission. While we view the Church as 'noncommercial,' others may consider Church products as advocating our religious point of view. In that sense they may be considered 'commercial.'

The Church Intellectual Property Office recommends obtaining written permission, even from members of the Church. The IPO has a form you can use called a 'Release to Use Image (RUI).' It is accompanied by a longer document called "Guidelines for Using an Individual's Name, Likeness, or Image," which you should also become familiar with.

Using others'; work or others' images improperly is dishonest and could embarrass the Church and make it vulnerable to legal action. Please be responsible when you are creating new products for public affairs use.

Use of the Church Logo

The official Church logo may be used in only three ways: (1) on missionary name badges, (2) on official Church stationery, and (3) on correlated items (projects approved at Church headquarters and issued an identifying item number by the Correlation Department). This means that, for the most part, you may not use the Church logo on items you create. Instead, please use the full name of the Church, spelled out in whatever typeface you are using for your product (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints). Or, in a graphic layout, you may use the Church's name in two lines, such as:

The Church of Jesus Christ

of Latter-day Saints

Please do not use all caps, typefaces that purposely mimic the Church's logo typeface, or the enlarged name of the Savior to attempt to simulate the standard Church logo.

Pre-Approved Product Templates

Approved templates of Church products have been created for stake and multistake public affairs use. These templates should address many standard public affairs needs and can be completed quickly and printed in your area with only local priesthood approval. Please consider using these templates before you decide to create a new product. If a particular template is not available and you think it may have broad applicability for the Church, please feel free to suggest it here.

Intellectual Property Forms

Release to Use Image Agreement

Gives the Church full rights to use a person’s image in Church materials. Materials that include these images are owned by the Church.

Creative Works Unlimited License

Gives the Church unlimited use of another’s creative work. Creator remains the copyright owner.

Guidelines for Using an Individual’s Name, Likeness, or Image

Guidelines on when an image release is needed.

All completed forms should be forwarded to your Area Director of Public Affairs. A copy should be kept locally as well

Related Resources

Brochures, Samples & Templates | Mormon Helping Hands | Multiedia Library | Public Affairs Programs

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