One of our authors was wanting to know how she could quote the Bible correctly in her book. This is the advice I was able to provide:
Each publisher of a Bible version has a different set of rules for quoting their version. Most define what is granted before permission is required. Most will let you quote a certain percentage of the Bible as long as it’s not a significant portion of the work you’re doing. (ie. You can’t print the Book of John with your name on it unless you translate it from the Greek yourself). You’ll be required to include a copyright permission notice on the copyright page of your book. Some publishers want a copy of your book with the copyright permission notice…but I’ve never seen one insist on it.
Here’s an example (NIV):
The NIV text may be quoted in any form (written, visual, electronic or audio), up to and inclusive of five hundred (500) verses without express written permission of the publisher, providing the verses do not amount to a complete book of the Bible nor do the verses quoted account for twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the total text of the work in which they are quoted.
When the NIV is quoted in works that exercise the above fair use clause, notice of copyright must appear on the title or copyright page or opening screen of the work (whichever is appropriate) as follows:
THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
At PageMaster we can include the proper copyright permission on your copyright page as long as you tell us what version(s) you’re using. You can also find them yourself online. BibleGateway.com has a list of the copyright notices they use on their site – http://www.biblegateway.com/versions/ click the version you want to see the granted permissions. You can also search Google for “Bible copyright notices” and include the version you’re looking for.
Hope that helps.
Contact me with any more questions.
Dear Page-Master Publishing,
I am a Christian Author that is working on a book with a lot of historical content but also orthodox Christian teachings. I am having a problem understanding how to submit a narrative about a person like Joseph Smith, who has a ton of information on documentaries, DVDs, timelines, books, and the Mormon web sites. How do you take this vast amount of knowledge and cite this historical content? Can I list my references and quote only the directly quoted material? I have another figure, such as Jim Jones, where I have the same problem. I have written these narratives based on a vast body of knowledge that I have accumulated and written the narratives using my own words. The historical information and the timelines need to match their life stories. Is there any intellectual properties?
In this chapter, I am writing the life stories of these two gentlemen; the chapter is called “Another Gospel” after the Galatians 1:6-12 scriptures.
Do you do any consultant work because I may need to discuss this with you?
This will be the heart of the book, and I want to do this correctly
Please feel free to contact me!
Thank You in advance
God Bless You.
Melvin Douglas Wilson
Hi Melvin
Is the piece more historical fiction or historical biography?
Direct references will need attribution. A composite would be your creation as copyright covers the expression of an idea. Depending on the book you will want to include footnotes or a bibliography.
These links may be helpful.
https://thehistoryquill.com/how-to-write-historical-fiction-in-10-steps/
https://www.writersdigest.com/write-better-fiction/how-to-write-historical-fiction
https://www.writersdigest.com/guest-columns/how-to-write-historical-fiction-7-tips-on-accuracy-and-authenticity#:~:text=How%20to%20Write%20Historical%20Fiction%3A%207%20Tips%20on,let%20the%20story%20be%20told.%20More%20items…%20
https://www.evidenceexplained.com/quicktips/citing-everything-your-1-2-3-guide
https://www.evidenceexplained.com/quicktips/writing-historical-biography
Best
Dale
I’m currently writing a book about my spiritual awakening. I need to quote roughly 8 lines of verse for a 200 plus page book. The verses are a key point so I want to quote them. I could use the KJV version as that was the one I initially found, but I think the NIV version would be much clearer for the average reader.
Where I am confused is the acknowledge of copyright for the NIV version should I chose to use that. Obviously what I want to quote meets the criteria of the fair use clause as you show above (and have seen on other websites). Except on the Biblica website, it references the use to -Non Commercial- uses. So if that is the case, wouldn’t I need written permission from Biblica to use their verses, even if I was planning on citing the copywrite anyhow?
Hi Emeka
My reading is that you are fine – max 25%, no complete book, and no more than 500 verses. Once you are past any of those criteria you need special permission.
biblica: https://www.biblica.com/resources/bible-faqs/how-do-i-license-the-niv/
Permission requests for commercial use [in territory] that exceeds the above guidelines must be directed to, and approved in writing, by:
And, also the copyright notice on the copyright page.
Best
Dale
Thank you Dale! I did not see that page, the one that I found was the Terms of Use and it did not mention anything about the commercial usage!
Thank you for taking the time to answer my question!
Best Regards!
Emeka
How do I contact the publisher of the NKJV, to seek permission to heavily quote the text? Thank you.
The New King James Version is a Thomas Nelson publication. Details on use and contact information for more extensive use are here: https://www.thomasnelson.com/about-us/permissions/#GratisUse
Thank you for the article.
Would you happen to have any insights on quoting the Good News Translation (GNT) version of the Bible in a book & audiobook I intend on selling (which I believe falls under the Commercial Use).
Hi Sam
Commercial use over 1000 words, or more than 50% of a work, or using an entire biblical book require permission.
Here is the info on using the Good News translation: https://www.biblesociety.org.uk/copyright-and-permissions/
Thank you Dale for the response.
Followup question: American Bible Society (owner of the Good News Translation [GNT]) has the below links where they seem to indicate that any Commercial usage of GNT requires permission.
I would like to use it for commercial use (as part of my book’s ebook, paperback & audiobook iterations) & stay within the first 4 bullets of the below but I feel concerned if this will infringe upon their copyright.
This’s an excerpt from the link: https://www.bibles.com/services/licensing-information/
Summary of Fair Use Policy (All conditions must apply):
• No more than 500 verses in total may be reproduced without permission
• Scripture/Verses may not make up more than 25% of the new work
• Verses quoted do not amount to 50% of a complete book of the Bible
• All Scripture must be properly cited with the appropriate copyright notice (see below)
• The book or product must be available for non-commercial use.
Also they have similar info on their other link -https://www.americanbible.org/about/legal/copyrights
There is considerable difference between the American and British sites from what appears to be to very similar versions.
It appears the link I sent refers to the 1994 edition based on the copyright notice to include in on the copyright page. The text does say “You must use the text from the second edition of the Good News Bible.”
The US link you sent seems to apply to the 1992 edition and is much more restrictive.
You would need to use the UK version or request permission if using the US version.
How can I use and correctly quote texts from The King James Version Bible in my book.
The KJV is public domain in most of the world (the Authorized version is protected in the United Kingdom). As such it can be used freely. Adding KJV after the quote helps readers know which version you are referencing.
There is an interesting article on bible copyright on stack exchange:
https://christianity.stackexchange.com/questions/16377/what-major-translations-of-the-bible-are-in-the-public-domain
New on our blog: How Can I Properly Quote the Bible in My Book? – http://t.co/CmphXVb5