logo
Indiana Bible College sues choral composer over copyright infringement claims

Indiana Bible College sues choral composer over copyright infringement claims

Yahoo04-06-2025
Indiana Bible College is suing a renowned composer and her music publisher, claiming defamation after they alleged the school unlawfully based its viral hit song on her composition.
In a complaint filed June 2 in the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Indiana, the Indianapolis-based college said statements made by Fred Bock Music Co. and choral music composer Rosephanye Powell have damaged the school's reputation and led it to lose business.
Indiana Bible College drew attention with the late April debut of 'John 1,' and a video of the song being performed by the college choir went viral.
Powell and California-based Gentry Publication maintain that 'John 1' is derivative of the classical a cappella 'The Word Was God,' a popular piece in choral circles that Powell wrote in 1996.
In late May, Powell took to social media to claim the school infringed on her copyrighted work.
Powell claimed IBC copied, altered and performed her song without permission in producing 'John 1.' This was after she and Gentry denied the college permission to use the song in 2024, she said.
Song dispute: 'No credit or consent.' Composer says Indiana Bible College stole her song for streaming
After Gentry made a copyright claim against a 'John 1' video on YouTube, the platform removed the video. IBC still has the video of the spring performance of the song on Facebook.
"John 1" debuted on Apple Music on May 2, 2025, and its sheet music was made available for sale.
'This song is undeniably a derivative of my work,' Powell, a music professor at Auburn University in Alabama, said in a May 23 Facebook post, adding that the Indiana choir made minor alterations to notes, rests and rhythms to "The Word Was God."
Fred Block Music Co. owns Gentry Publication, the publisher of 'The Word Was God,' which is based on the first chapter of the Gospel of John in the Bible.
Indiana Bible College in its lawsuit says 'John 1' is an original composition and does not infringe on 'any protectable elements' of "The Word Was God," and that it owns the music in the new song, with the 'significant musical elements … independently composed in the summer of 2024.'
The college claims Powell and Gentry 'published and amplified false statements across Dr. Powell's and Fred Bock's social-media channels,' 'encouraged others to renounce John 1 and IBC,' and 'used IndyStar to publish an article accusing IBC and its writers of unauthorized derivative, copyright infringement, and intellectual dishonesty.'
College leaders did not respond to IndyStar's request for comment prior to publication of a May 30 story detailing Powell's concerns over "John 1."
Indiana Bible College said the statements made by Powell and Gentry hurt its reputation, resulted in loss of prospective contracts, and led to those listed as writers and composers garnering hostility.
The defendants influenced third parties from doing business with the school, which had prospective business relationships with students, composers, worship communities, venues, and publishers for the use of 'John 1' and other compositions, the lawsuit states.
IndyStar left messages with the college and its lawyer for comment on the lawsuit, but had not heard back by the time of publication.
The college's filing also lists unidentified defendants who have 'published or republished defamatory statements or induced business interference.'
'Third parties have viewed, shared, or reposted Defendants' statements, further damaging Plaintiff's business and personal reputations,' and the defendants are inducing venues, publishers, and worship communities to cease using or promoting 'John 1,' the complaint says.
Powell has seen a lot of support from the choral music community on social media, including statements from state choral associations and businesses. She is the 2025 recipient of the American Choral Directors Association's prestigious Raymond Brock Memorial Commission.
J. W. Pepper, the world's largest sheet music retailer on May 28 posted to its Facebook page, 'We stand with Rosephanye Powell. As a champion of original music, we support the artists whose work we distribute,' the company posted on May 28. ' We applaud Dr. Powell's courage in speaking out to defend her intellectual property. Creative work is not only labor — it's legacy.'
Indiana Bible College is seeking compensatory and punitive damages and asking the court to declare 'John 1' does not infringe on and is not derivative of 'The Word Was God.'
The school also wants the court to order Powell and her publisher not to make defamatory statements, remove defamatory statements from websites and social media and issue public retractions.
It requests a trial by jury.
Both Powell and Gentry Publication said they are standing by their claims that 'John 1' was derived from 'The Word Was God.'
'In the strongest terms we disagree with all of their allegations and will continue to defend Dr. Powell's work and reputation as well as our copyright ownership in 'The Word Was God,' Gentry Publication said in a statement provided to IndyStar June 4.
Powell said she has no plans to back off of claims that the bible college used "The Word Was God" to create "John 1."
'You're going to tell me to be quiet because you're losing money over something based on my work?' she said. 'We're speaking truth. ... They want this to go away.'
'They've got the wrong one."
Indiana Bible College, headed by Rev. Joshua Carson, is affiliated with the United Pentecostal Church International.
Founded in 1981 and currently located at 1502 E. Sumner Ave., the school posted to its social media accounts on May 25 that it was working on clearing up the matter in private.
'The release of the choral arrangement 'John 1' has been met with claims of copyright infringement," it said. "Establishing whether copyright infringement has occurred is extraordinarily fact sensitive, and parties to copyright infringement disputes frequently genuinely disagree whether the legal standard for infringement has been met. We are actively discussing the matter privately with the only party that has a legal standing to dispute the matter.'
The school's filing follows the May 29 receipt of a letter from Gentry and Powell alleging copyright infringement and threatening a lawsuit if the college did not comply with their demands.
Contact IndyStar reporter Cheryl V. Jackson at cheryl.jackson@indystar.com or 317-444-6264. Follow her on X.com:@cherylvjackson or Bluesky: @cherylvjackson.bsky.social.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana Bible College files defamation lawsuit against choral composer
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Palantir Goons Reportedly Want to Remake Hollywood Into a Libertarian Dream Factory
Palantir Goons Reportedly Want to Remake Hollywood Into a Libertarian Dream Factory

Gizmodo

time23 minutes ago

  • Gizmodo

Palantir Goons Reportedly Want to Remake Hollywood Into a Libertarian Dream Factory

Rightwing forces in the U.S. have long coveted a key fixture of American liberalism's soft power: Hollywood. The 'dream factory' that deeply influences the ways Americans see themselves and the world around them has often been accused of (perhaps rightfully so) having a liberal bent. Now, it appears that a group with ties to America's military-industrial complex has a plan to take over Tinseltown and mold it in their own image. Semafor writes that a new production company with ties to a current and former executive at Peter Thiel's creepy defense contractor Palantir has its sights set on transforming the entertainment industry into a bastion of neo-conservatism. Founders Films (which sounds a lot like Thiel's Founders Fund, don't you think?) wants to 'co-finance projects, distribute films, and engage in brand partnerships,' Semafor writes. The company wants to produce projects that 'celebrate American military action, push for confrontation with China, and elevate heroes of the right from Rand to Elon Musk,' the outlet notes. Key figures raising money for the firm include Palantir chief technology officer Shyam Sankar, Christian Garrett (whose firm has invested with companies belonging to several MAGA figures, including Palantir, Musk's SpaceX, and Palmer Luckey's Anduril), and Ryan Podolsky, an early employee at Palantir, Semafor writes. The outlet cites a pitch deck for the new production company that gives a good snapshot of what the firm is envisioning for Hollywood's rightwing glow-up. 'The American Brand is broken. Hollywood is AWOL. Movies have become more ideological, more cautious, and less entertaining. Large segments of American and international viewers are underserved. Production costs have soared and sales are flagging,' the deck reportedly reads. The company has also said of its brand: 'Say yes to projects about American exceptionalism, name America's enemies, back artists unconditionally, take risk on novel IP.' Semafor further notes that the company appears to have an interest in telling stories that extol the virtues of America's 'special friend' in the Middle East, Israel: The company brands itself as explicitly pro-American, but many of the projects also celebrate Israel. Founders' proposed film slate also includes Roaring Lion, a movie about the recent attack against Iran, which depicts Israel as 'striving for nuclear non-proliferation and exercising its right of self-defense against a crazed regime intent on destroying it.' Gizmodo did not find a public contact for Founder's Films, but reached out to Palantir for comment. We will update this story when we hear back. Rightwing forces have long sought to demonize 'liberal' Hollywood, most recently by making the industry seem like a QAnon-style cabal of wealthy pedophiles. That said, the perception that Hollywood is a predominantly 'liberal' town is a fairly shallow one. It's worth noting that the industry has gone through many different eras, and that each of those eras was defined by a variety of political influences and postures. It would also be difficult to suggest that Hollywood has never made any nationalistic films or ones that are sympathetic to Israel. Early aughts Hollywood is littered with godawful pieces of filmmaking that reveled in Bush-era nationalism and brain-dead warmongering. In short, it's not like every movie that has come out since 1903 is The Battle of Algiers.

Regina King Pens Touching Tribute to Ex Malcolm-Jamal Warner After 'Cosby Show' Actor's Tragic Death: 'Ride in Power'
Regina King Pens Touching Tribute to Ex Malcolm-Jamal Warner After 'Cosby Show' Actor's Tragic Death: 'Ride in Power'

Yahoo

timean hour ago

  • Yahoo

Regina King Pens Touching Tribute to Ex Malcolm-Jamal Warner After 'Cosby Show' Actor's Tragic Death: 'Ride in Power'

"Some people leave a lasting imprint, not just for who they were but for the energy they carried," King wrote of Warner Regina King is paying tribute to her ex Malcolm-Jamal Warner. In the wake of Warner's tragic death at the age of 54 on July 20, King, also 54, shared a pair of Instagram Stories posts paying tribute to the Cosby Show alum, whom she dated in the early 2010s. "Some people leave a lasting imprint, not just for who they were but for the energy they carried," she wrote alongside a photo of Warner on a motorcycle. "I'm sending prayers filled with love and understanding to your family and loved ones. Rest easy Malcolm-Jamal Warner." King shared another photo of Warner on a motorcycle, captioning it, "Ride In Power." King and Warner dated from 2011 to 2013. Little was shared about their relationship, and Warner opened up to BET in October 2011 about why they kept their relationship private. "I think Regina and I are both of the philosophy that we keep our private lives private. All relationships go through all kinds of peaks and valleys. And I think it's unfortunate — when you live in the public eye, of course, your peaks and valleys are going to be heavily scrutinized," he shared at the time. "So we just kind of prefer to protect what we have going on because relationships are work, anyway. We don't need the rest of the world to know our Kool-Aid," Warner continued. "So we like to protect what we have because it's very special and very precious." King hinted that she and Warner were "good" around the time of their split. "Hey everybody PLEASE don't believe everything you read," she wrote in a tweet from March 2013. "Me & [Warner] are good. Life happens. Forward motion. Godspeed." Warner drowned while on a family vacation in Costa Rica. The Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ) confirmed to PEOPLE that the actor's autopsy was completed on Tuesday, July 22, which showed that he died from accidental asphyxiation by submersion. 'The body will be removed from the Judicial Morgue by a funeral service company hired and authorized by Mr. Warner's family,' the organization said. In a statement obtained by PEOPLE on July 21, the OIJ said: "The victim appears to have entered the sea and was apparently swept away by a current. The man was rescued by bystanders and taken to shore, where he received treatment from the Costa Rican Red Cross. However, he was declared lifeless at the scene." Costa Rican National Police formally identified Warner on Sunday, July 20. They revealed the following day that the actor's cause of death was ruled as the result of drowning, pending the autopsy report. In addition to King, Warner has been remembered throughout the Hollywood community for his work on and off the screen. He has been honored by several of his The Cosby Show castmates, including Bill Cosby and Raven-Symoné. Warner famously played Theodore "Theo" Huxtable throughout the series' eight-season run between 1984 and 1992. Castmates from other shows Warner appeared on have also shared their memories of him, including Tracee Ellis Ross from Reed Between the Lines, Patrick J. Adams from Suits and Emily VanCamp and Morris Chestnut from The Resident, among others. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Warner is survived by his wife and his daughter. Read the original article on People

Matthew Perry's doctor pleads guilty to supplying Friends actor with ketamine
Matthew Perry's doctor pleads guilty to supplying Friends actor with ketamine

Yahoo

timean hour ago

  • Yahoo

Matthew Perry's doctor pleads guilty to supplying Friends actor with ketamine

A doctor has pleaded guilty to supplying Friends actor Matthew Perry with ketamine before his death. Dr Salvador Plasencia admitted four counts to a federal court judge in Los Angeles. Matthew sadly died on October 28, 2023, after he was found unresponsive in a hot tub. READ MORE: BBC presenter dies in car crash as co-star pays tribute to 'true friend' READ MORE: Prince Harry's 'brutal' question to Eugenie at event without Meghan Medics had been called to his home in Los Angeles at around 4.17pm, The Mirror reports. Read More: Ozzy Osbourne tributes live as funeral wishes shared and Book of Condolences revealed Following his death, Plasencia was charged with supplying the drug to Matthew. He previously branded the actor, who played Chandler Bing on the sitcom, a "moron" in text messages. And on Wednesday, July 23, he pleaded guilty to four counts of illegal distribution of the drug, which is used as a prescription anaesthetic. Prosecutors said that he now faces up to 40 years in prison when he is sentenced. He was one of five people who were charged in connection with the death of the actor. Following the tragedy, his Friends co-stars paid tribute to him. Jennifer Aniston, who played Rachel Green on the series, wrote on Instagram: "Oh boy this one has cut deep. "Having to say goodbye to our Matty has been an insane wave of emotions that I've never experienced before. "We all experience loss at some point in our lives. Loss of life or loss of love. Being able to really SIT in this grief allows you to feel the moments of joy and gratitude for having loved someone that deep. "And we loved him deeply. He was such a part of our DNA. We were always the 6 of us. This was a chosen family that forever changed the course of who we were and what our path was going to be. "For Matty, he KNEW he loved to make people laugh. As he said himself, if he didn't hear the 'laugh' he thought he was going to die. His life literally depended on it. "And boy did he succeed in doing just that. He made all of us laugh. And laugh hard. In the last couple weeks, I've been poring over our texts to one another." She added: "Matty, I love you so much and I know you are now completely at peace and out of any pain. "I talk to you every day… sometimes I can almost hear you saying 'could you BE any crazier?' Rest little brother. You always made my day."

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store