How do I obtain information on licensing a translation of the bible to create materials for a business?

Question

I need to know royalty information, aprox costs, etc.
If someone is reading from the bible during a recorded sermon or homily do they need to pay a license or royalty to that particular bible text publisher?

Answer 1

Contrary to popular belief, the KJV Bible is not in the public domain worldwide. In the UK, the copyright is still held by the queen. It is managed on her behalf by Cambridge University. KJV printers in the UK need a license to print it, and they pay a small royalty to ... royalty. :-)

Each copyright owner is different. Many have broad statements that allow you to quote from their Bible on a limited basis without further permission as long as you attribute the quote correctly. All of them have a "rights department" that can help you figure out if you need permission and if it will cost anything.

To answer your specific question, when someone reads from the Bible during a sermon or homily they are making "fair use" of the scriptures and don't have to pay. There are extreme exceptions: If you recorded a "sermon" in which you just read the whole NIV Bible, then distributed it to others, you'd probably get a letter from Zondervan. If, on the other hand, you quote a few verses in the course of your sermon, you're fine.

Contrary to some who have answered here, there's nothing about the copyright status of the Bible that affects whether or not it's "the word of God". Remember the Bible was written in Hebrew and Greek thousands of years ago. Those texts ARE in the public domain and you're free to read, quote, and publish those all you want. However, when a translator translates the original manuscripts into English (or another language) the translation is the property of the translator. Some translators release their work into the public domain; some make it freely available; and some use copyrights to recoup the expenses of doing the translation (which isn't cheap). Most of these owners have programs whereby they give away copies of their work to prisons, missionaries, and other needy organizations. They only ask those with the means to pay to help defray their costs by paying a royalty.

Answer 2

You're going to CHANGE the Bible? That's what contributes to the issue of Bible inerrancy (how accurate and true it really is ever since people began changing it, which was almost immediately after it was revealed). Unless you are attempting to show the people what the Bible had originally intended for people, and not just replacing unpreferred verses with things people want to read and hear, changing/editing the Bible is probably a sin in itself.

Answer 3

Turn to the "Title page" of the Bible you are using, with all the copyright info on it. It will tell you where to contact for the needs you have. It is free up to a certain amount of words (not sure what #), but then it's like 5 cents a word after that.

Answer 4

You'll probably have to pay royalties. Usually the royalties differ depending on the author and publisher.

Answer 5

Look in first few pages of the Bible where the publishers name is found and get in touch with them. Or go to local Christian bookstore and see if they either have or can order the materials you need.

Answer 6

Contact the publisher of the particular bible text that you are interested in reading from!

Answer 7

Use the KJV. It is not copyrighted by anyone. That is why it is God's Word, and the rest are just translations by modern man. The new versions are made to make money, hence the copyrights.

God's true Word cannot be bound by copyright law.

...the word of God is not bound.
(2 Tim 2:9)

Answer 8

the bible is considered public domain.