Indiana Bible College sues choral composer over copyright infringement claims

Indianapolis Star

a day ago

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.