Quoting Biblical text is technically a dicey proposition. While the original manuscripts are obviously public domain, not every translation is. Indeed, the NIV even posts the following [copyright notice](http://www.biblegateway.com/versions/New-International-Version-NIV-Bible/) on BibleGateway: >Copyright Information > >The NIV text may be quoted in any form (written, visual, electronic or audio), up to and inclusive of five hundred (500) verses without express written permission of the publisher, providing the verses do not amount to a complete book of the Bible nor do the verses quoted account for twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the total text of the work in which they are quoted. > >When the NIV is quoted in works that exercise the above fair use clause, notice of copyright must appear on the title or copyright page or opening screen of the work (whichever is appropriate) as follows: > >THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. > >These Scriptures are copyrighted by the Biblica, Inc.™ and have been made available on the Internet for your personal use only. Any other use including, but not limited to, copying or reposting on the Internet is prohibited. These Scriptures may not be altered or modified in any form and must remain in their original context. These Scriptures may not be sold or otherwise offered for sale. Given this, what significant translations of the Bible can I actually quote at length?

McHugh & Callan, O.P., *Moral Theology* says >292. […] rights and duties are correlative—there being a duty that corresponds to every right, and vice versa To what duties do author's rights (*ius auctoris*) correlate?

Many modern bible translations are published with copyright claims. However published in the work is not only permission but a command to make a copy. This can be found in Deuteronomy 17:18: > And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that > he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is > before the priests the Levites: You might argue that this only applies to Kings. However Revelation 5:10 makes us all kings: > And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on > the earth. It seems to me that if the translators wanted to copyright their translations they would have to leave Deuteronomy 17:18 out. However they all include the verse and it appears, at least at face value, to supersede their copyright notice. Is this a valid legal argument? Has this has ever been tested in a court of law? And if so, what was the outcome?

The ASV Bible is viewed to be a Public Domain work in America (as is the KJV), but is the ASV also considered a public domain bible in England? I ask this question because the internet indicates that there were certain licensing provisions made with the Crown in the original production of ASV. So would I or anyone have any problems or issues with UK copyright or Crown issues in the UK by repeatedly quoting the ASV? Oxford and Cambridge apparently don't allow the KJV to be quoted for commercial usage, and other types of usage has limitations. Is that true for the ASV bible also?

I have found on Biblegateway.com that there is a list of Bibles that are in the Public Domain for the US including the ASV, but I am not sure if that also covers Canada.

I added minor changes from a Bible with public domain and made a new Bible version. How can I register copyright for the new Bible version? Is it true that Publishing a Bible with ISBN already implies that I have registered for the Bible?

I am writing a memoir and want to use some quotes from the King James Version Bible. Will this be considered Public Domain because of the age. Thank you

I was raised in a little bit poor country where it's almost impossible for individuals to make online payments. No PayPal, Credit cards are for national use only and international use is very expensive. When I first started using computers, I used to hack or crack all the software that I use starting from the serial number or the activation of windows to the serial numbers of the photoshop, office, and even the smallest software. I've never done an online payment to buy any software because it's very expensive to buy them. I just checked the price of 3D max out of curiosity and it costs about $1,500 per year! That means I should work for a whole year without eating or spending any money to buy it. On top of that, I need to buy windows to be able to run it with an additional few months of working without eating. I know that all the reasons above are not an excuse to steal. But is cracking software and googling their serial numbers considered a sin? Has the Orthodox Church made any known pronouncements on this subject? I'm Orthodox so I prefer the answer to be from an orthodox point of view.

I am writing a book about the New Testament and need to quote the Bible extensively. I know the KJV is in public domain and there shouldn't a problem in quoting it, but does that apply to a book that may be published and possibly sold on the open market? You have dealt with this issue before, but the person who was writing their memoir didn't indicate if they were going public with it, and were creating a commercial product. Does the later use of KJV scripture change any aspect of the Public Domain law? See below: > [Is the King James Version Bible in the Public Domain \[duplicate\]][1] > > > > This question already has an answer here: > > What major translations of the Bible are in the Public Domain? 8 > answers > > > > I am writing a memoir and want to use some quotes from the King James > Version Bible. Will this be considered Public Domain because of the > age. > > > > Thank you > > > > **Answer** > Yes, it will. Quote away, without fear of being attacked for not > footnoting what you are quoting. > > > > In the Wikipedia article on the KJV, you'll find the following: "The > Authorized Version [i.e., the KJV] is in the public domain in most of > the world." > > > > In your memoirs, just make sure your quotation corresponds to the > correct chapter and verse. A personal pet peeve of mine is the > frequency with which I go to the reference provided in a writing and > fail to find the verse that is quoted and cited. > > > > On the plus side, however, that kind of erratum makes me appreciate > all the more the miraculous job performed by generations of faithful > and meticulous scribes and transcribers who all did their part in > providing us with the Bible we have today. PTL! > Any wisdom that you can provide will be greatly appreciated.

The goal is to get my hands on a blank/clean version of the KJV that is in the public domain - One that I could copy freely into a text editor without fear of ever having to deal with copyright issues. The intent is to copy the entire Bible into my book to add apologetics & commentary to it in the form of foot/side -notes while leaving the text itself entirely unchanged. I'm guessing that this is allowed, but what I mainly need to know is whether there is a specific website from which writers could download the KJV. I've found this link - perhaps that is what I'm looking for? I very much thank you for your help.

For Bible versions quoted in book, do I need copyright info on each or just the major one? For example, in the book we are writing, the NIV is the most quoted. The copyright page has thee following statement: > Unless otherwise noted Scripture quotations are from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Is it adequate to simply add the version after a quote? E.g., > Jesus wept. John 11:35 NKJV or do I need to add a footnote or endnote: > New King James Version (NKJV) Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

[This question](https://christianity.stackexchange.com/questions/16377/what-major-translations-of-the-bible-are-in-the-public-domain) establishes that most copyrighted translations have a fair use clause allowing for up to 500 verses to be used. [This question](https://christianity.stackexchange.com/questions/25814/can-i-project-more-than-500-verses-of-scripture-over-the-course-of-a-year-or-a) further clarifies that the 500 word limit is "reset" each week in the case of a pastor projecting verses onto a screen in a sermon. Well, what about a program or app that makes available daily readings (always conforming to the fair use clause in a given day) but which, over the course of the year will show more than 500 verses total. Is it reset each day? This feels like a use of the translation *in good faith*, but I don't know how a lawyer representing a profit-seeking company would see it. Depending on how the program is written, that could further by complicated if the program: 1. stores the entire translation in a database, or 2. allows users to access "daily readings" from days other than today What do you think?

There are people and organisations that state that copyright is wrong, and that copyright law should be *deprecated*. I think the same way but as a Christian I want to be sure that such thought is not be against the will of God. Would being an advocate for the deprecation or abolition of copyright law run contrary to any Biblical or Christian principals? Is there any justification for copyright stated in Bible or other Christian sources?

In this question https://christianity.stackexchange.com/questions/16377/what-major-translations-of-the-bible-are-in-the-public-domain-and-therefore-not we established that most modern translations allow for fair use of a certain amount of Scripture - meaning that specifically you are allowed to reprint their translation without specific copyright provision. To wit, using the NIV and the United States as an example: >The NIV text may be quoted in any form (written, visual, electronic or audio), says that this would include projecting the words on the overhead screen. No question there. Question 1. Length: According to this: >up to and inclusive of five hundred (500) verses without express written permission of the publisher, it says 500 verses. Obviously, it is unlikely that any one sermon is going to need more than 500 verses. But, does each sermon reset the counter? In other words, over the course of a year, it would be likely that I would project more than 500 verses. Where do I know that the counter resets? Question 2. An entire "book" It also says: >providing the verses do not amount to a complete book of the Bible So, what if I'm preaching on 3 John? Or Jude? In those cases, it would seem very likely to just do the whole "book." Are we breaking the law there? And if so, how do I rectify the situation?

> **Possible Duplicate:** > [Are Christians bound to the laws of their country?](https://christianity.stackexchange.com/questions/2259/are-christians-bound-to-the-laws-of-their-country) - Making illegal copies of films, music, books and games - Downloading and seeding torrents - Using someone else's program code without license - Plagiarism (which is like breaking 9th Commandment) Are the things listed above sinful? Does it depend on whether we're making money from it?