Are there any copyright laws surrounding the use of the bible, Qu'ran or Torah?
2007-10-03 05:20:26 · 21 answers · asked by Faith 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
primoa1970 - thanks!
2007-10-03 05:25:59 · update #1
This may interest you.
Braille version of Quran, Bible get copyright
4/13/2006
From: The Hindu, India
By: Staff Reporter
Submitted by BlindNews Mailing List
HYDERABAD: The Holy Quran and Bible brought out in Braille script by Guru Kondaveeti Jyothirmayee, noted devotional singer, have been given an entry in the Register of Copyrights, Copyright Office, Government of India.
Ms. Jyothirmayee known for her rendition of Annamacharya sankeertanas and a social worker, brought out Braille (English) version of the holy books for the benefit of visually challenged children. She also won the copyright for other epics -- Ramayanam, Bharatham, Bhagavatham, Annamacharya Sankeertanas -- brought out in Braille by her earlier. A communication about entry of her latest Braille books was received from Copyright Registrar Office, according to a release.
She also launched an e-mobile Braille library recently under the aegis of Kondaveeti Jyothirmayee Central Trust to bring various Braille books brought out by the Trust and others for the visually challenged school children.
2007-10-03 05:46:26 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
All copyright rules apply as with any other text. This means that if the material were written in its present form more than 50 (?) years ago, then the term of copyright has expired. For example, if you were to find a copy of the King James bible written 400 years ago, all text within it would not be subject to copyright and can be freely copied. Think about it. Who would sue you for infringement, as the original writers are long dead. If you are working with a translation or rewording, then what is the age of the translation/rewording, as it is subject to all copyright laws.
2007-10-03 05:35:37 · answer #2 · answered by Fred 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not on the original texts, but there are copyright laws surrounding the various translations. KJV is in the public domain - being a few centuries old, you know - but NIV and NASB are copyrighted. At least, they were the last time I bothered to check.
2007-10-03 05:26:32 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
LoL well actually yes, if you consider the newer translations - Zondervan's versions, Eugene Peterson's "The Message" etc. are copyrighted in that you can't print them out & you can't quote them without citing them. Other translations of the bible are public domain (such as the KJV and other free online versions)
Just check the first couple pages of your bible/Qur'an to see if there are any copyrights on the translation.
2007-10-03 05:25:33 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Copyright on litriture is based on time after the death of the author. In the cases in question there can be no copyright, unless the publisher can prove that he has made substantial materail change to the original.
2007-10-03 12:30:32 · answer #5 · answered by Terry M 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are copyright laws for works with annotations, and perhaps certain texts with peculiar reference and study materials. There are also copyrights for certain newer versions.
But no copyrights on the original language texts, and older versions such as KJV or The Geneva Bible or even the RKJV.
Copyrights are good for 20 years. Idk if they can be renewed but certainly not forever.
I Cr 13;8a
2007-10-03 07:23:53 · answer #6 · answered by ? 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's not a stupid question. Copyright of religious works is actually not well-defined.
Generally, religious groups won't sue individuals for violating copyright laws unless they're doing so in order to attack the religion.
2007-10-03 05:25:20 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Yeah. You need official permission to reprint them. I have a feeling the Qu'ran can only by written by hand but I'm not sure on that one.
And theres no such thing as a stupid question if its asked in earnest (because you want to know the answer)
2007-10-03 05:24:48 · answer #8 · answered by ty_rosewood 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
As evil as the music and movie companies are, even they couldn't extend copyright past... 90 years, was it?
Scientology, though, makes money off its "holy texts" and uses copyright law to attack its critics.
2007-10-03 05:25:21 · answer #9 · answered by Dreamstuff Entity 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Hello,
No, usually after 100 years or so the laws are chucked away.
Cheers,
Michael
2007-10-03 05:29:48 · answer #10 · answered by Michael Kelly 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋