Many churches reach out to their communities by hosting game day parties, because it’s a great opportunity for fun and fellowship.
In 2007, the NFL made churches think twice by sending a cease-and-desist letter to an Indianapolis church, ordering it to cancel a “Super Bowl Bash” party for 400 members. The NFL cited copyright infringement as the reason for contacting the church.
Party On, with a Few Precautions
The 2007 incident received a great deal of attention. As a result, the NFL clarified its stance and granted churches permission to show the game as long as they follow a few specific guidelines:
- The game must be shown on equipment the church regularly uses. If the church owns a big screen and sound equipment for Sunday worship services, the game can be shown using this equipment.
- The church cannot charge admission for the party. However, it may accept donations to defray the cost of food and other supplies.
- To eliminate the risk of copyright infringement, the church may want to call its event something other than “Super Bowl Party.” For example, “Big Game Bash.” (Source: David Middlebrook, the Church Law Group) The Church Law Group produced a YouTube video that explains the above guidelines in more detail. View the video.
Hope you have a great party!
Reference: Used with permission from Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company. Copyright © 2013. All rights reserved.
