Copyright God's Word.

[Quantos]

I often wonder if a christian converting God's word to todays language would copyright it and prevent if from being given away freely.

I understand that a business is just that a business, they are there to make money and supply jobs. But if a person or small party was to Re-translate the Original (Public Domain) Bible to a Modern translation, would they put restrictions on who could copy it , print it or give it away ?

 

[BarbB]

They do already, Quantos - the NIV and the NKJV (and The Message) are copyrighted.

 

[Lynn73]

As far as I know the KJV has no copyright. How can you copyright the word of God? He's the Author.

 

[Quantos]

As far as I know the KJV has no copyright. How can you copyright the word of God? He's the Author.

Not in the UK

In the United Kingdom the Authorized King James Version (KJV) remains in Crown Copyright under laws which predate any modern copyright legislation. The rights in this Version of the Bible are a Crown prerogative which continues unaffected by changes in secular legislation.

As for the second part. Good question, sorta what I'm wondering.

 

[BarbB]

Wow, I had no idea. I'm sure that would apply in the USA and yet you can get KJV for computer nearly free and must pay real money to get NKJV.

I think .... I don't have a clue!

 

[Oblio]

IIRC translations/interpretations are intellectual property. Even though the source of the inspiration is the Holy Trinity, in many cases the copyright for the printed interpretation has not expired.