viking mens clothes at Birka
Jennifer Ann Bray
I have just finished typing in a translation of a chapter from a book
on the archaeological finds at Birka (tenth century viking cemetary)
The chapter deals with finds of men's clothing: kaftans, matching hats
decorated tunics and some scant remains of leggings attached to the
rings and hooks that held them up.
If anyone would like me to email them a copy of the translation send
me a note at:
J.A....@bnr.co.uk
Does anyone know what the copyright rules are on translations? I have
a clear conscience since anyone reading the chapter who is really
interested is going to want to rush out and find the original books so
they can see the pictures, so its more likely to function as an advert
than a replacement.
Translations make the original books useable by more people, so the
copyright holders shouldn't object, but then again if they were
planning on bringing out their own translation a free one in
circulation could be a problem.
So does anyone know if I'm breaking any rules offering a translation?
If translations are out are summaries or paraphrases that aren't
straight translations allowed?
Jennifer
Vanaheim vikings
David Friedman
(Jennifer Ann Bray) wrote:
> Does anyone know what the copyright rules are on translations?
A translation is a derivative work, and as such is covered by the copyright
of the original as well as by the copyright of the translator.
--
David Friedman
Cornell Law School
DD...@Cornell.Edu
Terry Nutter
Jennifer asks,
>Does anyone know what the copyright rules are on translations? I have
>a clear conscience since anyone reading the chapter who is really
>interested is going to want to rush out and find the original books so
>they can see the pictures, so its more likely to function as an advert
>than a replacement.
Translations have all the same protections under copyright law that
original works do, for all the same reasons.
>Translations make the original books useable by more people, so the
>copyright holders shouldn't object, but then again if they were
>planning on bringing out their own translation a free one in
>circulation could be a problem.
Then again, writing a book makes results more available, and authors
care anyhow; partly because they, and translators, like to be paid
for their work.
>So does anyone know if I'm breaking any rules offering a translation?
If it is not your own, and you do not have permission, yes.
>If translations are out are summaries or paraphrases that aren't
>straight translations allowed?
Very darned touchy. At this point, you don't need a Rialtan, you need
an expert in copyright law (or the help of a reference librarian in
locating such an expert's written work, or so on).
Cheers,
-- Angharad/Terry
Terry Nutter
I just posted,
>Jennifer asks,
>
>>Does anyone know what the copyright rules are on translations? I have
>>a clear conscience since anyone reading the chapter who is really
>>interested is going to want to rush out and find the original books so
>>they can see the pictures, so its more likely to function as an advert
>>than a replacement.
>
>Translations have all the same protections under copyright law that
>original works do, for all the same reasons.
And then realized, after posting, that I was probably answering the
wrong question. Jennifer, is this _your_ translation, or someone
else's?
If it's someone else's, then what you've done violates the translator's
copyright.
If it's your own, then it is a violation of the copyright on the book
(it _is_ under copyright, yes?), but of a different sort, and may be
easier to get permission for.
I would try for the permission, were I you. After that much work,
it is only sensible to give it a go.
Cheers,
-- Angharad/Terry
Jennifer Ann Bray
Thanks to everyone who know enough about copyright law to tell
me I'm on dodgy ground translating someone elses work without
permission (well I suppose the translating isn't the dubious part
it's letting other people get at the translation).
Someone suggested contacting the author who, in this case, is the
copyright holder.
So here's the next question. Has anyone ever tried to get hold of the
author of a book? Where do you start? I haven't even got a full
address for the publishers either: it just says:
"Kungl. Vitterhets och Antikvitets Akademien"
I don't know what town or country that is in, has anyone out there
heard of them? does anyone know where they are
I certainly don't want to annoy the author's of the book by breaking
thier copyright without permission, so if anyone can help me track
them down so that I can try to get permission I would be grateful
Jennifer
P.S. Eric_Smith@hq2_gate, your mail system can see mine, but mine
can't see yours :-(
Terry Nutter
Jennifer asks,
>So here's the next question. Has anyone ever tried to get hold of the
>author of a book? Where do you start? I haven't even got a full
>address for the publishers either: it just says:
>"Kungl. Vitterhets och Antikvitets Akademien"
>I don't know what town or country that is in, has anyone out there
>heard of them? does anyone know where they are
Take this information to a research librarian. Tell him/her you want
the full mailing address of this company. Do some running around, on
instructions. ;^} The result should be an address for the publisher.
Write the publisher, saying that you would like to contact the author,
and asking whether either they can accept a letter on the author's
behalf and forward it, or provide you with a more direct address, or
failing both of those, have the author get in touch with you.
May not work, but very likely it will.
Cheers,
-- Angharad/Terry
Colette Goodyear
>
>Does anyone know what the copyright rules are on translations? I have
>a clear conscience since anyone reading the chapter who is really
>interested is going to want to rush out and find the original books so
>they can see the pictures, so its more likely to function as an advert
>than a replacement.
You must receive permission from the original author or
copyright holder (not necessarily the same thing) before offering
your own translation to other people--even if you're
not making any money from it. Technically, you
should have received permission from the author before starting the
translation. Please don't be deceived by the thought
"people are going to want to see the pictures so they'll
buy the original anyway"! That would not be considered a
legal defense.
The good news is that you own the copyright to the translation
unless the original author makes you give up that right as
a condition of his/her permission to translate and offer
the original work.
>If translations are out are summaries or paraphrases that aren't
>straight translations allowed?
Under Canadian copyright law, there is something called "Fair
dealing" (note: this is not the same as the US's "Fair use" policy)
that allows for summaries and paraphrases as long as a substantial
portion of the work is not copied or quoted. I believe that Canadian
law follows the Berne convention in this, which is the law
pertinent to the UK. Check with a reference librarian to make sure
though.
I really enjoy reading your posts Jennifer. If you want some
help in actually going for permission, send me e-mail. I'm
not a copyright lawyer but I am a copyright officer and I deal
with this all the time. (Ack! I've got about 100
requests sitting on my desk right now.)
Colette Goodyear col...@morgan.ucs.mun.ca
(Alienor doesn't know about this stuff but she does remember some sort
of story about St. Columba getting upset over the copy of a book.)
--
ein ander werlt die meine ich,/ diu samet in eime herzen treit/
ir sueze sur, ir liebez leit,/ir leibez leben, ir leiden tot,/
ir lieben tot, ir leidez leben:/ dem lebene si min leben ergeben,/
der werlt wil ich gewerldt wesen,/ mit ir verderben oder genesen.
Jennifer Ann Bray
like it isn't O.K. to go round translating things.
I don't want to offend the original authors because I like their work
and want them to produce more of the same. So I shall try to get hold of
the authors of the Birka stuff to find out if they object to
me translating their stuff, and if they object to me letting other
people read the translations.
I'm hoping they won't mind, because then I can type in some more
translations I've got, but if they do mind I guess I shall have to keep
my translations to myself.
Though it does seem to be O.K. to talk about a work in general terms,
particularly if you are doing a general comparison with other things
in the same field, so maybe I can still do a sort of a book review type
discussion of the series since there seem to be a lot of people on the
Rhialto interested in the Birka stuff :-)
(If anyone gets enthusiastic enough to reproduce some of the gorgeous
metal embroidery in the textile finds book I'd love to hear about it)
If I shut up altogether you'll know the copyright police have dragged
me off to jail for illegal translating :-(
Jennifer
Vanaheim vikings
T. Archer
>> Does anyone know what the copyright rules are on translations?
>A translation is a derivative work, and as such is covered by the copyright
>of the original as well as by the copyright of the translator.
>--
Note that this includes translations of public domain works.
A good example is ol' Sew-krates (Socretes, for the BillnTed-impaired). His
stuff is WELL out of the original-author copyright protection, here in the US.
But if you reference a transation made recently
(life-of-the-translator-plus-20), it is still under copyright.
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T. Archer
>You must receive permission from the original author or
>copyright holder (not necessarily the same thing) before offering
>your own translation to other people--even if you're
>not making any money from it.
That's what I understand, except that I was told (casually, not for reference)
that copyrights were only good for the life of the creator, plus 20 years. Am
I mistaken?
(I'm not a copyright shyter, and I don't play one on TV. Your miliage may
vary. Don't try this at home.)