The Orthodox Christian Attorney Network is drawing attention to a growing problem for parishes and nonprofit institutions: so-called “copyright trolls.” Specialized law firms scour the internet for unauthorized uses of copyrighted images and issue costly settlement demands. A simple mistake in using an image found online can become an expensive problem for a parish, monastery, or other institution.

To address this issue, the Diocese of Eastern America of the Serbian Orthodox Church is sharing a new article by Deacon Kenneth Liu, Executive Director of the Orthodox Christian Attorney Network and an experienced intellectual property attorney.

In his article, Churches: Beware of Copyright Trolls, Dn. Kenneth explains the risks of unlicensed image use, outlines the basics of copyright law, and offers practical guidance for churches and institutions. He also addresses questions related to icons and copyright.

The article can be found here.

Church boards, trusteeships, clergy, and those responsible for websites, social media, bulletins, and other publications are strongly encouraged to read the article in order to avoid legal claims.

Appreciation is herein offered to Dn. Kenneth for this helpful resource and for his continuing work on behalf of the Church.

Source: oca.org