“THE NRSV IS MORE THAN THE TRANSLATION RELIGION BOOK PUBLISHERS TURN TO FOR CLEAR AND ACCURATE QUOTES IN THEIR BOOKS; IT'S ONE THEY LOOK TO FOR THEIR OWN SPIRITUAL NOURISHMENT.”
— Michael Leach

PRIVACY POLICY

This summary is based on the NRSV Statement of Policy:  Privileges of Quotations (rev. April 20, 1991) and other policy statements approved by the Bible Translation and Utilization Committee of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA (NCC).  It is applicable to both the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) and the Revised Standard Version (RSV) of the Bible. 

The summary provides general information on copyright policies regarding the RSV and NRSV.  It is for general information purposes only, and the NCC reserves the right to revise the RSV/NRSV copyright policy and to make decisions based on the circumstances of each license permission request.

GRATIS USE POLICY 

Up to 500 verses of the RSV or NRSV may be quoted in any form (written, visual, electronic or audio) without charge and without obtaining written permission provided that all of the following conditions are met:

  • The total number of verses quoted is:
  • less than an entire book of the Bible, and
  • less than 500 verses (total), and 
  • less than 50% of the total number of words in the work in which they are quoted
  • No changes are made to the text.  All quotations must be accurate to the text, including all appropriate punctuation, capitalization, etc. unless specifically approved to the contrary prior to publication.
  • The applicable notice of copyright must appear in an appropriate location in the publication in which they are quoted.  See “Copyright Notice and Acknowledgement” for the appropriate copyright notice for each version of the RSV/NRSV. 

WEB USE POLICY

Use of the RSV/NRSV on a web site is subject to the Gratis Use Policy described above.  When calculating the number of verses, include all verses that can be accessed from the web site (i.e., include verses that are archived on the web site.)

Permission will not be granted to post or podcast:

  • The complete RSV/NRSV
  • An entire testament from the RSV/NRSV
  • A complete book from the RSV/NRSV. 

Although posting the lectionary readings for a single week is within the Gratis Use Policy, most other online uses of the lectionary texts exceed the policy and will require a license. 

ALL OTHER USES  

If a proposed use of the RSV/NRSV text is outside the Gratis Use Policy, then please submit a request for permission.   

  • For requests to publish a print or electronic edition of the entire RSV/NRSV Bible, or the Old Testament (only), or the New Testament (only) that will be distributed anywhere in the world except for the UK, contact HarperSanFrancisco: Hargis.Thomas@HarperCollins.com
  • For all other requests, contact NRSVCopyright@aol.com.  This includes requests to use all or portions of the RSV/NRSV in an audio product, to publish the RSV/NRSV in the UK, and to use RSV/NRSV excerpts in any way that exceeds the Gratis Use Policy. 

RSV/NRSV requests should include the following information:

What you would like to use—RSV or NRSV

  • specific books/verses (including the total number of verses) or entire Bible

How you would like to use the RSV/NRSV text

  • Description of the proposed use
  • Working title
  • Publisher
  • Anticipated date of publication or first use
  • Media/format (e.g., print, electronic)
  • Number of pages
  • Binding
  • First print run
  • Anticipated lifetime sales
  • Portion of the new work that is represented by the RSV/NRSV texts
  • Retail selling price
  • Geographic market where the item will be distributed
  • Any other background information that would assist in describing your proposed use.  

Your Organization —

  • Organization’s name, mailing address, email address, and phone number
  • Contact person’s name, mailing address, email address, and phone number

Providing complete, detailed information will facilitate a timely response.

LICENSE FEES

A license fee may be charged for uses that exceed the Gratis Use Policy. License fees are assessed based many factors, including:

  • The amount of material used.
  • The ratio of RSV/NRSV material to the total content of the new work in which they appear. 
  • Whether the use is for commercial or noncommercial purposes:
  • A commercial use is any product that is offered for sale, lease, rental or barter.  This includes items that are sold at cost or for which the proceeds are used to benefit a charitable purpose.  Some local ministry and educational uses fall within the commercial category. 
  • All other uses are considered non-commercial uses.     

COPYRIGHT NOTICE AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

a. All quotations from the RSV/NRSV text must include the designation “RSV” or “NRSV” after the biblical citation. 

For example: 

  • Genesis 1:1 (NRSV)
  • John 3:16 (RSV) 

b. Except , a complete copyright notice should be included with all uses.  The location of the copyright notice will depend, in part, upon the medium in which the quotation is used.

For example: 

  • Books—On the copyright page and any other acknowledgements section
  • Audio uses, including cassettes and CDs—On the jewel box liner and any booklet inserted into the case
  • Electronic uses, including software—On the packaging,  “About This Product” screens, and product web site(s)
  • Visual uses, including videos, films, slides, and overhead transparencies—On the packaging, the copyright screen, and any other acknowledgements section
  • Greeting cards—On the backside of the card
  • Church use in bulletins, posters, banners, or other items used in the course of religious instruction or services at a place of worship or other religious assembly—As space permits or is appropriate for the use

When it is not feasible to use the complete copyright notice on the item, the full credit line may appear in ancillary materials that accompany the item. 

The following copyright notices are authorized for use with the various editions of the RSV/NRSV:

  • [Scripture quotations are from] Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952, and 1971 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
  • [Scripture quotations are from] The Catholic Edition of the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1965, 1966 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
  • [Scripture quotations are from] Common Bible: Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1973 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
  • [Scripture quotations are from] Revised Standard Version of the Bible, Apocrypha, copyright © 1957; The Third and Fourth Books of the Maccabees and Psalm 151, copyright © 1977 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
  • [Scripture quotations are from] Revised Standard Version of the Bible—Second Catholic Edition (Ignatius Edition) Copyright © 2006 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved
  • [Scripture quotations are from] New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
  • [Scripture quotations are from] New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
  • [Scripture quotations are from] Common Bible: New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
  • [Scripture quotations are from] New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright © 1989, 1995 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. 

QUESTIONS?

If you have any questions regarding use of the RSV/NRSV, contact NRSVCopyright@aol.com. This summary is based on the NRSV Statement of Policy:  Privileges of Quotations (rev. April 20, 1991) and other policy statements approved by the Bible Translation and Utilization Committee of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA (NCC).  It is applicable to both the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) and the Revised Standard Version (RSV) of the Bible. 

The summary provides general information on copyright policies regarding the RSV and NRSV.  It is for general information purposes only, and the NCC reserves the right to revise the RSV/NRSV copyright policy and to make decisions based on the circumstances of each license permission request.