Is it plagiarism if: I start a story (or a chapter) with the words "In the Beginning"?
What if the words are "It was a dark and stormy night"?
Is it plagiarism if: I start a story (or a chapter) with the words "In the Beginning"?
What if the words are "It was a dark and stormy night"?
Double down "A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far, away, in the beginning, it was a dark and stormy night."
I wouldn't think so. Snoopy copied 'It was a dark and stormy night' without attribution, and I don't thinkCharles Shultz got in trouble for it.
"It was a dark and stormy night"?
"The rain was drumming on my roof and windows. The night was lit only by occasional flashes of lightning."
The Christian Bible, supposedly authored by God, starts "In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth", so in the USA I believe "In the beginning" is copyright until a number of years after God's death.
AJ
That predates the existence of US law completely, in the US you originally had to explicitly apply for a copyright, and the term was much shorter than it is now.
So the Bible has never been under copyright in the US.
The Christian Bible, supposedly authored by God
I'm probably the least religious person here, but I believe the only thing God authored was the Ten Commandments. He wrote it in stone tablets.
I'm probably the least religious person here, but I believe the only thing God authored was the Ten Commandments.
Many claimants state that the Christian Bible is the word of God. Perhaps he didn't do the actual writing but that would imply He somehow dictated it.
AJ
Perhaps he didn't do the actual writing but that would imply He somehow dictated it.
The Christian Scriptures are said to be 'inspired' by the Holy Spirit, who provided guidance, but not the actual words.
The claim for the Qu'ran is that it is the actual words of Allah, revealed through the Angel Gabriel to the Prophet Mohammed.
The claim for the Qu'ran is that it is the actual words of Allah, revealed through the Angel Gabriel to the Prophet Mohammed.
But does the Qu'ran start with 'In the Beginning'? And under which country's copyright laws does it fall? ;-)
AJ
But does the Qu'ran start with 'In the Beginning'? And under which country's copyright laws does it fall? ;-)
Translations of the Qu'ran are copyrighted similar to translations of the Bible. The original Qu'ran, in Arabic was written so long ago, copyright wouldn't apply. Ditto the original Greek texts of the Christian Scriptures (the Christian OT is properly based on the the Greek Septuagint, not the Hebrew texts).
Translations of the Qu'ran are copyrighted similar to translations of the Bible.
As far as being under copyright in the US, a translation of either would have to be relatively recent (mid 20th century). The King James version of the Bible is not under a live copyright in the US.
The "Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Award" (https://www.bulwer-lytton.com/) is given to the worst story entry of the year. Several of the winners have begun: "It was dark and stormy night..." I'm not sure if "In the beginning " was ever used but try it - you might have a winner!
Tyndale Bible, 1526:
In the begynnynge God created heaven and erth.
(the first complete English translation of the Bible from Hebrew and Greek)
Great Bible, 1539:
In the begynnynge God created heauen and earthe.
Bishops' Bible, 1568:
In the beginnyng GOD created ye heauen and the earth.
Geneva Bible, 1599:
"In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth."
All before the Authorized King James Version, so I'd say copyright on that phrase has LONG expired, if it ever existed!