Did You Know Your Bible is Under Copyright?

Disclaimer: I'm a playwright, essayist, and copywriter--not a copyrighter. I'm the kind of writer who needs to reference previously existing works, not someone who licenses them. This compilation of basic, beginner information is as much for me as for the average person who will only use it once.

P.S. The links provided throughout and a little point under a #2 near the bottom are probably the most important things here.

First, a couple of definitions:

COPYRIGHT is held by the writer of a work. It is their exclusive legal right to do with their work whatever they wish. It is the "right to copy", which they can keep or contract out to second parties, like publishers, or sell entirely.

FAIR USE (sometimes "gratis use") is the understanding that small portions of a work under copyright may be used--providing proper credit is given--without needing to pay for the quotation or use. The holder of the copyright will often indicate the maximum amount that is allowed. Anything outside of the fair use indications would require special permission or a license.

So how does copyright work for Bible translations? This article will deal briefly with four of the most well-known translations: KJV, NKJV, ESV, and NIV.

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The King James Version (KJV)...is still under copyright. In fact, it's under copyright sort of forever. The rights are owned by the British Crown (I think we sometimes forget what this version is named). The Cambridge University Press administrates it and any licensed use would be through them.

Fair use of the KJV is as follows: "...maximum of five hundred (500) verses for liturgical and non-commercial educational use, provided that the verses quoted neither amount to a complete book of the Bible nor represent 25 per cent or more of the total text of the work in which they are quoted, subject to the following acknowledgement being included:

Scripture quotations from The Authorized (King James) Version. Rights in the Authorized Version in the United Kingdom are vested in the Crown. Reproduced by permission of the Crown’s patentee, Cambridge University Press.

When quotations from the KJV text are used in materials not being made available for sale, such as church bulletins, orders of service, posters, presentation materials, or similar media, a complete copyright notice is not required but the initials KJV must appear at the end of the quotation."

And if you want more info, I recommend the source: https://www.cambridge.org/bibles/about/rights-and-permissions/rights-and-permissions-kjv

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The New King James Version (NKJV) is under copyright through Thomas Nelson, a subsidiary of Harper Collins Christian Publishing.

Fair use of the NKJV is as follows: "...if your use does not fall within ALL guidelines listed below, you will need to submit a request for written permission.

No more than 500 verses quoted in total. Scripture does not make up more than 25% of the total text. Scripture does not account for an entire book of the Bible. Scripture is not quoted in a commentary or any other Biblical Reference work. All Scripture must be properly cited...: Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved."

Interestingly, they go on to say that their fair use DOES NOT include: "Scripture on a product in which the verse stands alone such as artwork, notecards, crafts, novelty products, jewelry. Use of charts, maps, illustrations, footnotes, study notes, reference material, and the like. Use of scripture in lyrics and musical compositions." Presumeably, these would be items for sale.

And if you want more info, I recommend the source: https://www.thomasnelson.com/about-us/permissions/#permissionBiblequote

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The English Standard Version (ESV) is under copyright through Crossway. The ESV should not be confused with the ESV Study Bible.

Fair use of the ESV is as follows:

The ESV text may be quoted (in written or print form) up to and inclusive of five hundred (500) verses without express written permission of the publisher, providing that the verses quoted do not amount to more than one-half of any one book of the Bible nor do the verses quoted account for 25 percent or more of the total text of the work in which they are quoted.

Common Uses Include: Church bulletin, Bible studies, Classroom use, Writing a book (print format)." Of course, each of these would require proper credit be given.

“Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated into any other language."

And if you want more info, especially as they have different requirements for digital, audio, artwork, and music, I recommend the source: https://www.crossway.org/permissions/

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The New International Version (NIV) copyright is held by Zondervan, a subsidiary of Harper Collins Christian Publishing.

Fair use of the NIV is as follows: "Text from the NIV, NiRV or AMP Bible may be quoted in any form (written, visual, electronic, or audio), up to and inclusive of 500 verses or less without written permission, providing the verses quoted do not amount to a complete book of the Bible, nor do verses quoted account for 25% or more of the total text of the work in which they are quoted, and the verses are not being quoted in a commentary or other biblical reference work. If an entire book of the Bible is being reproduced, regardless of verse count, written permission is required. This permission is contingent upon an appropriate copyright acknowledgment."

An interesting note on this one: "Zondervan is granting permission for the latest edition of the NIV text only (currently 2011.)" And as in other cases, fair use doesn't include: "Scripture on a product in which the verse stands alone such as artwork, notecards, crafts, novelty products, jewelry. Use of charts, maps, illustrations, footnotes, study notes, reference material, and the like. Use of scripture in lyrics and musical compositions." And as always, cite your sources!

Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

And if you want more info, I recommend the source: https://www.zondervan.com/about-us/permissions/

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Otherwise consciencious and ethical people have often, in my experience, been completely okay with copyright infringement, and what amounts to academic theft--even of the Bible. I think there are three possible reasons for that:

1.) Copyright is confusing and takes a silly amount of time to figure out, and even if you have pursued the right channels, you can't even get answers if you're "small potatoes." When you need something next week or in a month and a publishing company won't guarantee a reply to an inquiry in under six weeks (or ever), it's easier to knowingly make an illegal copy and dismiss any doubts with an "I tried," or "it's surely covered by academic/religious use." Most of the time copyright is this vague, difficult thing that is literally different with every single publication and situation. (I have called small companies before to get answers to questions about copyrights and licensing and their customer service reps didn't know.)

2.) We often assume ancient texts such as the Bible wouldn't be under copyright. And when we find out that it is, it feels...a little weird. But before you get bent out of shape, consider what a GOOD thing copyright is. It keeps translations consistent and available; if publishing companies didn't own the rights, they wouldn't be printing them. Translations would be much less trustworthy and much less available. Doing the work to pay for your use makes that same Bible available for the next person.

3.) Copyrights are impersonal and invisible, and so we think they don't apply to average people. We can't see any repercussions for our actions and since copyrights are so obtuse, they must not be meant for us. But if everyone thinks like that, well...we won't have these works in perpetuity.

Final thoughts: Copyright will continue to be sticky. Inform yourself, be willing to act upon what you learn and even change, act as ethically as possible, and exercise good sense. And happy fair use.