ILP Music

29 August 2025—For immediate release

Ninth Circuit Finds Substantial Evidence That Ambrosetti’s “Emmanuel” Was Copied

On August 27, 2025, in a published opinion, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals re-instated Vincent Ambrosetti’s federal copyright infringement lawsuit, which alleged that Mr. Ambrosetti’s original sacred music work “Emmanuel” was unlawfully copied when Bernadette Farrell composed and Oregon Catholic Press (OCP) published the later work entitled “Christ Be Our Light” (CBOL). The Court of Appeals held that the district court erred in granting summary judgment in favor of the defendants, because in fact Mr. Ambrosetti had presented substantial evidence that Farrell and OCP had access to “Emmanuel” before “CBOL” was composed in 1993 and because there was substantial evidence, including compelling expert testimony, that the two works were “strikingly similar.” The striking similarities of the two works constituted substantial evidence that Mr. Ambrosetti’s original work had been unlawfully copied by Farrell. . . .

Read the full text at www.ilpmusic.org/pressrele.html

"May the strength of God pilot us, may the wisdom of God instruct us, may the hand of God protect us, may the word of God direct us. Be always ours this day and for evermore." - Saint Patrick

As we begin the Lenten season on this Ash Wednesday, we are reminded of our humility and faith: "Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return." 🙏

Let the powerful message of Joe Higginbotham’s Remember You Are Dust guide your reflection today. Listen now on YouTube:

Remember You Are Dust - Official Lyric Video for Lent Composer: Joe Higginbothamhttps://www.ilpmusic.org/product/OCT82095-DL.html