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American Bible Society / Bibles.Com Rights and Permissions

Updated: September 5, 2024

The American Bible Society (ABS) manages the copyrights of several Bible translations and other resources provided below. This policy describes those uses of ABS-managed content which ABS considers to be fair use or requires permission.

If your desired use of ABS-managed content does not fall within the General Fair Use Limits below, please complete the Permission Request Form and email it to licensing@americanbible.org. For other questions, you may email us at licensing@americanbible.org or contact us at:

Copyrights & Permissions

American Bible Society

101 North Independence Mall East FL8

Philadelphia, PA 19106-2155

Bible Fair Use Policy. The following fair use policy applies to the content and Bible translations to which ABS owns, controls, or manages rights: Contemporary English Version™ (CEV), Good News Translation™ (GNT), and Reina Valera® 1960 (RVR60) Spanish translation.

Fair Use Without Permission:
1. General Fair Use Limits: Up to 500 verses may be quoted without written permission, provided the verses do not amount to 50% of a complete book of the Bible or 25% of the total text of the new work or product. For use in books, these General Fair Use Limits apply regardless of format (print, electronic, audio).
2. Proper copyright acknowledgment must be included with every use.
3. Written permission must still be obtained for following:
  - Products such as artwork, note cards, crafts, novelty products, or jewelry in which the verse(s) of Scripture used are in a non-literary context and appear alone or with limited other text.
  - Graphic elements of any of the applicable Bible translation, including without limitation maps, illustrations, photographs, cover images, footnotes, study notes, and reference materials.
  - Use of scripture in lyrics and musical compositions.
  - Use of an entire book of the Bible of the Bible translation.
  - Use in a commentary or other Biblical Reference work.
  - Books or other products which are produced for sale and exceed the General Fair Use Limits.
4. General Acknowledgment:
  1. Written Use: When quoting Scripture in written form, in all instances include one of the following notices for the applicable Bible translation:
    - “Scripture quotations marked (CEV) are from the Contemporary English Version Copyright © 1991, 1992, 1995 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.”
    - “Scripture quotations marked (GNT) are from the Good News Translation in Today’s English Version – Second Edition Copyright © 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.”
    - “Citas bíblicas tomadas de la Reina-Valera 1960. El texto bíblico ha sido tomado de la versión Reina-Valera © 1960 Sociedades Bíblicas en América Latina; © renovado 1988 Sociedades Bíblicas Unidas. Utilizado con permiso.”
  2. Visual/Electronic/Audio Use: For Scripture quotations used in visual, electronic, or audio media, include the appropriate copyright notice in or on:
    - The product (the medium itself);
    - The product’s cover or packaging;
    - Any acknowledgment or credits section; or
    - If none of the above are available, at the point of download, streaming, or other point of access.
  3. Trademarks: In providing proper acknowledgement and attribution, you must reproduce the applicable trademark and notice on the copyright page of a written product or in accordance with the visual/electronic/audio copyright acknowledgement terms above. Contact licensing@americanbible.org to obtain a file of the trademark logo for required inclusion. The trademark notice for the applicable trademark must be included as follows:
    - “Contemporary English Version™ is a trademark of the American Bible Society and may be used only under license.”
    - “GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION™ is a trademark of the American Bible Society and may be used only under license.”
    - “Reina-Valera 1960® es una marca registrada de Sociedades Bíblicas Unidas, y se puede usar solamente bajo licencia.”
  4. Commercial Use: Commercial use includes any product offered for sale, lease, rental, or barter.
    1. Written permission is required for any use exceeding the General Fair Use Limits.
    2. Requests for permission must include full responses to the Permission Request Form, including without limitation, the following information :
      - Exact portions to be quoted;
      - The medium in which those portions will be quoted;
      - Estimated percentage of the total text of the work made up of the quoted Scripture;
      - Any additional material to be included in the work, such as additional text, illustrations, photos, etc.;
      - The purpose of the use;
      - Number of copies or reproductions;
      - Distribution of the work; and
      - Sale or lease price of the work or other income to be received.
    3. Stand-Alone Products: Written permission is required for any use of Scripture where the verse stands alone on a product, including artwork, note cards, crafts, novelty products, jewelry, etc.
  5. Non-Commercial Use/Church Use:
    1. Non-commercial use typically includes free provision of the work or product in which the Scripture is quoted, often by churches or educational institutions. ABS does not require a request for written permission for non-commercial uses that comply with all General Fair Use Limits provided above. ABS considers the following to be a non-exhaustive list of non-commercial uses:
      - educational materials
      - sermons, bulletins
      - newsletters
      - presentations (e.g. PowerPoint)
    2. Specific to churches, the following uses do not require written permission if in compliance with all General Fair Use Limits:
      - Bulletins,
      - Orders of service
      - Bulletin board
      - Posters
      - Recordings of worship services
      - Materials used in the course of religious instruction or services at a place of worship or other religious assembly.
    3. Non-commercial uses still require the applicable acknowledgement in an appropriate location, as provided above in this policy, and notice at the end of each quotation (CEV/GNT/RVR60).
  6. Electronic Use:
    1. Written permission is required for any electronic use of ABS-managed Bible translations, including integration into any software application, other similar technology now known or hereafter developed, or use in generative AI tools. This section does not include an ebook published for non-commercial purposes which complies with the General Fair Use Limits. “Electronic” use denotes the use of an interactive computer.
    2. The use of ABS-managed Bible translations for training generative AI models (large language models or otherwise) is strictly prohibited with written permission.
  7. Visual Use: Written permission is required for any visual use of ABS-managed Bible translations, including videos, films, or other visual medium. “Visual” use includes videos, films, and presentations (e.g. visual aids or presentation slides). This section does not include non-commercial presentations (e.g. presentation PowerPoint slides) which comply with the General Fair Use Limits.
  8. Audio Use: Written permission is required for any use of ABS-managed Bible translations in an audio or audio/visual work or product. This section does not include an ebook published for non-commercial purposes which complies with the General Fair Use Limits.
  9. Use of Non-Scripture Content: ABS does not have a generally applicable fair use policy for ABS-managed non-Scripture content. ABS’s contractual obligations to third parties do not allow for a blanker policy to apply to all permission inquiries. Instead, permissions are handled on a case-by-case basis. To request use of non-Scripture content, please contact the permissions department at licensing@americanbible.org. Among ABS-managed content requiring written permission:
    1. Artwork: Including without limitation Good News Translation Line Drawing Illustrations by Annie Vallotton, CEV Artwork by Lynn Adams, Other Original Artwork from the CEV Learning Bible and the Jubilee African American Bible, Lear Illustrations.
    2. Scholarly Editions: Including without limitation, Greek/English Lexicon of the New Testament, Translator’s Handbooks, Synopsis of the Four Gospels, Bible and New Testament Index, and KJV Concordance.
    3. ABS Video Translations: Including without limitation, Out of the Tombs, Father and Two Sons, The Visit, Resurrection, Nativity, The Neighbor
    4. Bible Atlas/Bible Maps: Including without limitation, Geographical, Holy Land maps with photos and annotations and CEV and Good News Bible Maps (Old Testament and New Testament)
    5. Audio/Spoken Word Scripture: Including without limitation, La Palabra Eterna, Reina-Valera 1960 New Testament recording by ABS
  10. Other Bible Translations. For Bible translations to which ABS does own or otherwise control rights, you must confirm whether the translation is in the public domain or contact the appropriate rights holder. For example, as of the effective date of this policy:
    1. KJV: The original King James Version is now in the public domain in the U.S. and may be copied and distributed freely.
    2. NASB: Rights to the New American Standard Bible (NASB) are managed by The Lockman Foundation and guidance may be found at lockman.org;
    3. NIV: Rights to the New International Version (NIV) are managed by Zondervan/HarperCollins Christian and guidance may be found at harpercollinschristian.com/sales-and-rights/permissions/;
    4. ESV: Rights to the English Standard Version (ESV) are managed by Crossway and guidance may be found at https://www.crossway.org/permissions/.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Bible translations are available from American Bible Society? American Bible Society manages rights and permissions for the Contemporary English Version (CEV), Good News Translation (GNT), and Reina-Valera1960 (RVR60) Spanish Bible translation. Rights for other translations are managed by their respective publishers. Print versions can be purchased at www.bibles.com or by calling 1-800-32-BIBLE (1-800-322-4253).

How do I submit a permission request? Complete and submit the electronic permission request form available here. You can also download the form and email it to licensing@americanbible.org.

Do I need a copyright statement if I quote a few verses of the GNT/CEV/RVR60 in my publication? Yes. Refer to the rights and permissions guidelines for the correct copyright statement for the CEV, GNT, or RVR60 translations.

How much does it cost to license an entire translation? Costs are evaluated individually. Submit a permission request form for review. Both non-profit and commercial organizations can license translations, with consideration given to the ministry value of the request.

Do I need to pay if I quote from the GNT/CEV/RVR60 within the Fair Use Policy? No royalties or fees are required if your use falls within the Fair Use Policy. Donations to support the mission of American Bible Society are encouraged here.

Can I quote the GNT/CEV/RVR60 in my church bulletin? Yes, within limits. Include the appropriate copyright acknowledgment, quote no more than 500 verses, not more than half of a book, and ensure the quotation does not exceed one quarter of the total bulletin.

Can I use Psalm 23 in its entirety in my children’s book? Using translations beyond the Fair Use Policy requires written permission, which may involve royalties or other fees. Submit a permission request form for review.

Do I need written permission to include the GNT/CEV/RVR60 in a Bible Study app for mobile phones? Yes, this usage requires written permission and may involve royalties or other fees. Submit a permission request form for review.

Why is there a copyright on the Word of God? The copyright protects the translation. Public domain translations are available without restrictions. Free access to American Bible Society translations is available at biblesearch.americanbible.org.

Where can I buy Bibles? Bibles and other Scripture resources can be purchased at www.bibles.com or by calling 1-800-32-BIBLE (1-800-322-4253).

Do I need permission to print Bible verses on T-shirts and sell them? Yes, you need written permission or a licensing agreement, which may involve royalties or other fees. Submit a permission request form for review.

Can I photocopy the line drawings from my GNT Bible for use in my church bulletin? No. The line drawings by Annie Vallotton in the GNT Bible cannot be used without permission. Report unauthorized use to licensing@americanbible.org.