D038 Amend Canon II.3 to Remove Copyright Restrictions from Non-English Books of Common Prayer
General Convention, through the Canons of this Church, has made it clear that authorized versions of the Book of Common Prayer are to be in the Public Domain. Unfortunately, translations of said Book have not been treated as authorized versions, but rather revisions, with the Custodian of the Book of Common Prayer holding copyright on them. This creates an undue burden on non-English speaking congregations, which this canonical change seeks to ease by making it clear that all translations of the Book of Common Prayer are to be held without copyright.
Explanation
General Convention, through the Canons of this Church, has made it clear that authorized versions of the Book of Common Prayer are to be in the Public Domain. Unfortunately, translations of said Book have not been treated as authorized versions, but rather revisions, with the Custodian of the Book of Common Prayer holding copyright on them. This creates an undue burden on non-English speaking congregations, which this canonical change seeks to ease by making it clear that all translations of the Book of Common Prayer are to be held without copyright.