New English Translation - Copyright Status

Copyright Status

The NET Bible's approach towards copyright comprises a full copyright license which is explained in its "Ministry First" statement, both of which emphasize its openness and freedom. The publishers claim that "after 10 years, the NET Bible is still the only major modern translation that can be downloaded for free in its entirety and used seamlessly in presentations and documents." However, as of October 2010, the NET Bible's copyright statement is over 1500 words long, and contains different conditions for generic copyright, diglots and bible quotations in multiple formats, including commercial and non-commercial publications.

The NET Bible's approach to copyright is self-summarised as:

"The Bible is God’s gift to humanity – it should be free."

In "Copyright Innovations – Toward a New Model," the Ministry First position statement makes at least four additional important clarifications:

• We still don’t fully like the copyright notice for the NET Bible, but in our litigious world it remains a challenge...
• We believe that 1 Tim 5:17-18 (the author has the right to be paid) and Lev 23:22 (allow the poor and foreigner free access) can be simultaneously satisfied far better with a new Internet model...
• We want all authors to know that the NET Bible is a safe choice.
• It is time for ministry to be more free – and for a Bible which puts ministry first....Let us know how we can better serve your needs.

However, these statements do not form part of the copyright notice itself, so their legal value is unclear.

Rick Mansfield describes these permissions as " basically take a “YES” position in regard to permission to use the NET Bible in publications or on the internet for “the vast majority of requests.” Michael Paul Johnson's Bible FAQ at the World English Bible site is more specific, saying "You may download a free copy for your personal use at http://netbible.org. Copyrighted." The "Copyrighted" category in the FAQ classes the NET bible with most other English translations mentioned, except for the World English Bible, which is described as public domain. Peter Kirk's review of the NET Bible copyright notes that the Open English Bible (OEB) is "under a licence enabling the maximum reuse, remixing and sharing without requiring the payment of royalties or the obtaining of permission from copyright holders". The review contrasts this with the NET Bible copyright by quoting a letter by Russell Allen stating "On the (Free Software-based) definition above, the NET Bible is not free. I cannot take the NET Bible, make changes and redistribute my changed version without permission".