As SCRIBES, we copyright and do whatever we can to protect OUR WORK. It's ours and no one has the right to tamper with it, or claim it as their own without our permission. SO I'm perplexed... How can those who print HOLY BIBLES claim COPYRIGHT over GOD'S WORD? Especially, when they claim to want to "SPREAD THE WORD OF GOD"!
And if it's to protect their spin on it, WHY do they put their own spin on GOD'S WORD? If it is their interpretation... isn't this, coming from God?
These questions have perplexed me for some time. I'd be grateful for any input.
1 person likes this
Copyright exists not only over words. You can copyright the translation (translating is a lot of work.) You can copyright the layout (again, a lot of work). The introduction, the footnotes... there's a lot of original work in publishing a classic.
Now, I've never worked on the Bible, but I've worked on old work such as Shakespeare. There are different interpretations and possibilities (Do you use the first folio? The second? Do you correct what looks like a typo by the bard's friends?), so no two publications of a Shakespeare text are exactly the same. You have your introductions and all the rest.
Try translating Shakespeare into French! Or, Moliere or Sophocles into English!
Now, if you're simply scanning an old King James Bible, perhaps there's no copyright. But, for a New International edition, with footnotes and the rest, maybe even maps, new readable layouts, and so on, you did a lot of work.
1 person likes this
the only trouble with religion books is that any one can re-interpret it for there owns ends and as other have said its in the public so the public and writers choose what they want for there own ends , and not just the bible the koran etc as we know all been used to promote wrong messages , sad but true
1 person likes this
Patricia, some editions are indeed claimed as copyright material because of a specific translation or version — like any other written material. For example, the King James version in the U.K. is covered under the crown copyright. The Bible itself in its original language and writings is in the public domain.
Thanks Beth. Think you're responding to me.
Thanks everyone. I guess what I was trying to say was - why?... If, as most religious people claim to want to spread the WORD OF GOD, do they permit restrictions on HIS WORD. Thank you all for your comments.
1 person likes this
Now I get your post. I thought you had a question about copyright.
Why restrict the word? Well, with copyright, you restrict alterations to the word. You can get most religion's scriptures (Gideon Bible, Book of Mormon, Hare Krishna Veda, tracks from all religions) for free. It's free to access online, and people will hand you a copy if you ask (sometimes even if you don't.)
So, the copyright is not about restricting distribution or access, but rather protecting what is considered sacred from being defaced.
It's like the parable of the three servants. God gives to his servants earthly "property" to look after, but in the end it belongs to God.
Greenpeace and others do the same, protecting their advocacy with copyright.
Whoops, Patricia. Yup, sorry, fixed my mistake. I only responded to answer the copyright question.
Thank you Vasco Phillip de Sousa for taking the time with this.
The dilemma remains. Why print a Bible and hand it out to all and sundry to spread the Word of God (as claimed), if, by the mere registration of restriction (copyright) you are limiting that Word which, no matter what you've done in the book, is not yours to patent. They are the Words of God.
Guess I didn't really expect it to be answered here. Just for discussion. Thank you for your input.
Thank you Erik Jacobsen. And that He is.