After criticism from elected officials, the NFL decided it will allow church groups to show the Super Bowl on large-screen televisions, reversing its previous policy
Originally the NFL had said, such mass out-of-home viewing on a display larger than 55 inches, such as those held in churches, violated copyright and trademark law. Now the NFL has reconsidered it’s decision allowing church viewing parties to be advertised without legal consequence.

In a letter to U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said the league will no longer object to “live showings — regardless of screen size — of the Super Bowl” by religious organizations, The Washington Post reported.

An earlier story in The Post about church groups canceling Super Bowl parties over fear of legal action by the NFL led to protest by some lawmakers and conservative leaders.

At the center of the issue is an NFL policy which holds that organizations showing public viewings of its games on televisions larger than 55 inches violate the league’s copyright. Sports bars are exempt from the policy, but last year, the NFL sent letters to two church groups, advising them of the rule, according to The Post.

In its letter to Hatch, the NFL said it would not object to big-screen viewings in churches as long as they are free and held on premises that the church uses on a “routine and customary” basis, according to the report.

Hatch said in a prepared statement that he was grateful that the NFL made the exception.”Many families want to enjoy the Super Bowl in a group atmosphere — but obviously aren’t going to take their kids to a sports bar,” he said, according to The Post.

For more on copyright laws visit http://www.copyright.gov/