Most of the world now recognizes the need to give incentive and protection to creative persons. Copyrighted material owned by U.S. citizens is protected in many countries by those countries' copyright laws and treaties with the U.S. 5. If you want to include copyrighted lyrics in a song, sheet, arrange a copyrighted song for four baritones and kazoo, or make any special use of copyrighted music that the publisher cannot supply in regular published form, the magic word is ask. You may or may not receive permission, but when you use someone else's property you must have the property owners consent. Think of copyrighted music as a piece of property and you'll be on the right track.
Some publishers routinely grant permission over the phone.
Destroy unauthorized photocopies and recordings, and replace them with legal editions. Possession of any illegal copies is the same as harboring stolen goods. You are permitted by law to perform copyrighted religious works from legal editions in the course of services at places of worship or in religious assemblies. Legal editions do not result from unauthorized duplication of religious works. Purchasing one copy of sheet music, then making 30 copies for the choir without permission is not legal or ethical.