Understanding Intellectual Property in Memorialization

Coming Soon! Expected Release December 7, 2026

Memorialization is deeply personal, often involving music, photos, video tributes, printed materials, and digital content. While these creative elements add meaning, they also raise important legal and ethical considerations regarding intellectual property. Funeral service professionals must understand how copyright, trademarks, and usage rights apply in order to protect families, their businesses, and themselves from legal risk.

This course provides funeral professionals with a clear overview of intellectual property issues commonly encountered in memorialization. Participants will explore topics such as the use of copyrighted music in tribute videos, licensing requirements for printed or digital materials, permissions for photography and videography, and respecting trademarks or logos in personalized merchandise. Practical tools will be provided to help professionals make informed decisions, develop policies, and guide families in creating meaningful yet compliant memorials.

Emphasis is placed on balancing creativity and personalization with legal responsibility, ensuring that every memorial is both heartfelt and respectful of intellectual property law.

Learning Outcomes:

Through seven focused modules, participants will learn how to:

• Define key concepts of intellectual property, including copyright, trademark, and licensing, as they relate to funeral service.
• Identify common intellectual property risks in tribute videos, printed materials, music, and digital memorialization.
• Apply practical strategies for obtaining permissions, licenses, or alternative content that complies with the law.
• Develop funeral home policies to guide staff and families in avoiding intellectual property violations.
• Balance the desire for personalization with the need for legal and ethical compliance in memorialization.