Is (a possible) revised NWT prompted by lapsing copyright? (page 2)

Bobcat

Question:

Are the 'anonymous' translators the copyright owners or is the WTBTS the copyright owner? And if the WTBTS, then, does the lifetime extension mentioned above apply to a corporation, just as for a real human?

(I think I remember somewhere that the translators presented the copyright to the WTBTS as a gift (of sorts).

(A quick search found this reference (Reasoning Book):

*** rs p. 277 par. 1 New World Translation ***
When presenting as a gift the publishing rights to their translation, the New World Bible Translation Committee requested that its members remain anonymous. The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania has honored their request. The translators were not seeking prominence for themselves but only to honor the Divine Author of the Holy Scriptures.

Jeffro

Bobcat:

is the WTBTS the copyright owner?

Yes.

RubaDub

I gather that copyright lasts for the lifetime of the author plus 70 years.

slimfatboy ...

You are not taking into consideration the overlapping lifetime of the author.

Obviously, the law is referring to a lifetime when those who are later born will overlap with the life of the original author.

Rub a Dub

adamah

You are not taking into consideration the overlapping lifetime of the author.

Obviously, the law is referring to a lifetime when those who are later born will overlap with the life of the original author.

Wait a minute: I thought Jehovah was the author ("all scripture is God-breathed"...), and since God is eternal and timeless without a beginning or ending, how would that even apply?

Adam

slimboyfat

Copyright is not renewed with reprinting, that would make the concept of the expiry of copyright meaningless. The Book of Mormon has never been out of print, for example, but it is now in the public domain. The copyright notices on the 1971 and 1984 editions presumably refer to the appendices, footnotes, indexes and so on added to those edition. The text itself of the Christian Greek Scriptures is what will run out of copyright in 2020, 70 years after its publication in 1950.

blondie

How long does a copyright last?The term of copyright for a particular work depends on several factors, including whether it has been published, and, if so, the date of first publication. As a general rule, for works created after January 1, 1978, copyright protection lasts for the life of the author plus an additional 70 years. For an anonymous work, a pseudonymous work, or a work made for hire, the copyright endures for a term of 95 years from the year of its first publication or a term of 120 years from the year of its creation, whichever expires first.For works first published prior to 1978, the term will vary depending on several factors. To determine the length of copyright protection for a particular work, consult chapter 3 of the Copyright Act (title 17 of the United States Code). More information on the term of copyright can be found in Circular 15a , Duration of Copyright, and Circular 1 , Copyright Basics.

http://www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap3.html

The last revision of the NWT was 1984...or 2006 printing.....

slimboyfat

In 2020 the text of the Christian Greek Scriptures as published in 1950 will be in the public domain. There have been a few revisions of the text itself over the years (most famously the wording of John 1:1) but the text is largely the same text. So people could then legally print their own copies and make ebooks using essentially the are text used in Kingdom Halls today. That may be what the Governing Body wishes to avoid by coming out with a revised edition. They can't stop the copyright expiring on the text of 1950, but they can produce a revised text to be used at the meetings that has a new period of copyright associated with it.

The Bible is All About.. Us!!..

..

Would you like the WBT$ GB to..

Autograph your Bible?!..

....................... ...OUTLAW

Is (a possible) revised NWT prompted by lapsing copyright?

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