Why does the niv bible have so many licensing restrictions on it?

Question

I've been llooking for sum decent bible software and whenever i come across really good freeware/shareware ones, niv isnt on it because they supposedly "own" rights to it????

What brand of bible is the one that you sumtimes see old guys handing out for free, is it niv? if it is, is that illegal?

Also, why dont the niv guys just give away their translation for free? will they lose too much money are sumthing?

Answer 1

I would not be too worried, the NIV is a horrible trans.

For instance look how the NIV handles the translation of the verse found at John 1:18:

KJV - Jhn 1:18 - No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared [him].

King James Version 1611, 1769
NKJV - Jhn 1:18 -No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.
Footnote:
NU-Text reads only begotten God.

New King James Version © 1982 Thomas Nelson
NLT - Jhn 1:18 -No one has ever seen God. But his only Son, who is himself God, is near to the Father's heart; he has told us about him.
Footnote:
Some manuscripts read his one and only Son.

New Living Translation © 1996 Tyndale Charitable Trust
NIV - Jhn 1:18 -

No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only,,who is at the Father's side, has made him known.

Footnote:
a Or the Only Begotten
b Some manuscripts but the only (or only begotten) Son

New International Version © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society
ESV - Jhn 1:18 -

No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.

Footnote:
a Greek in the bosom of the Father
b Or the only One, who is God; some manuscripts the only Son

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version © 2001 Crossway Bibles
NASB - Jhn 1:18 -No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained {Him.}

New American Standard Bible © 1995 Lockman Foundation
RSV - Jhn 1:18 -No one has ever seen God; the only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has made him known.

Revised Standard Version © 1947, 1952.
ASV - Jhn 1:18 -No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared [him].

American Standard Version 1901 Info
Young - Jhn 1:18 -God no one hath ever seen; the only begotten Son, who is on the bosom of the Father -- he did declare.

Robert Young Literal Translation 1862, 1887, 1898 Info
Darby - Jhn 1:18 -No one has seen God at any time; the only-begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, *he* hath declared [him].

J.N.Darby Translation 1890 Info
Webster - Jhn 1:18 -No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared [him].

Noah Webster Version 1833 Info
HNV - Jhn 1:18 -No one has seen God at any time. The one and only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has declared him.

Hebrew Names Version 2000 Info
Vulgate - Jhn 1:18 -Deum nemo vidit umquam unigenitus Filius qui est in sinu Patris ipse enarravit

Jerome's Latin Vulgate 405 A.D. Info

BTW? This is from the sight below,

Answer 2

The NASB is supposed to be a lot better as a translation. NIV does not seem enough of a literal translation. By literal translation I mean trying to keep close to the original words and phrases. NIV is of course trying to translate the meaning.

Can't you get for use with e-Sword. Some of the modern translations have to be paid for though.

Perhaps not giving it away is due to the way they are organised. If tasked by various denominations to maintain and develop translations, they may not have enough charitable donations to pay for the business, so are charging - other organisations may have got better charitable backing.

Answer 3

copyright laws
not stealing intellectual property which was the product of someone's hard word
not wanting to have the translation ruined by people's monkeying around with it

Most hand out the KJV which is too old a translation to have a copyright. You might be able to get an NIV for free.Idid -I got it as a gift.

Answer 4

You can hand out copies of the NIV for free (just like you can hand out copies of any book). Otherwise, the NIV is a translation, and falls under the same restrictions as any other intellectual property. If you want to understand why, just try to make your own translation.

Answer 5

You not only have Copy Right Laws. But back about 1945 a cave full of buried manuscripts were found and the notes at the bottom are mainly in reference to what the Bible said about 200 A.D. compared to now. Words were added or changed by translators, copiers by hand, over the centuries. It is trying to stay as correct as possible.

Answer 6

I will always prefer my NIV, because despite what people say it is the better Greek language. For example in 2 Timothy 3: 16, the word for "inspired" should be "God breathed" as the NIV puts it. That is closer to the Greek.

Answer 7

The person who owns the NIV translation is not a religious person. He is in it for profit. This is 100% true.

Answer 8

Try the WEB http://www.ebible.org/ and for bible software http://www.onlinebible.net/

Answer 9

Copyright laws,,,,,?