[sword-devel] copyright issues

[Barry Drake]

Hi .......

I've noticed the issue of module text copyright seems to be getting mixed 
up with the software licence issue.  These two issues are separate, and 
ought not to be connected.

The copyright on modules is not, as some seem to be saying 'making 
money out of God's word'.  It is simply a case of some translators 
needing payment for what is a vast amount of work.  Personally I don't 
begrudge them their pay.  I work as a minister for no pay.  I have retired 
from my job as an engineer to give more time to ministry.  Many of my 
colleagues are paid for doing the same job.  I don't begrudge them their 
pay either.  Paul pointed us to the scripture that says 'you don't muzzle 
an ox while it is grinding your corn'.

Why don't we just allow publishers such as Zondervan, who hold 
copyrights to have the encryption key for our version of their text(s), and 
release it to users on payment of the appropriate royalty?  If they wanted 
to release a module unlocked on disk with the Sword software, surely 
that would be OK too provided they only charged the royalty plus an 
appropriate fee to cover handling, copying etc. and agreed on no charge 
for the software.

May God bless you all,

Barry

>From Barry Drake (The Revd - minister of Arnold United Reformed Church,
Nottingham - see http://www.arnold-urc.supanet.com for our church homepages).

Replies - b.drake@ntlworld.com
Fax: 0705 069 8746