<p>Buddhist scriptures are so old they are not under copyright. Translations maybe. Some are made freely available. Best is just ask the author or do your own translation. Also quoting a small portion may be acceptable as fair use.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-06-18T04:31:27.327Z
2017-06-18T04:31:27.327Z
Suminda Sirinath S. Dharmasena
<p>This is a contentious issue in Buddhism because the Buddha taught the Dhamma is to be given freely &amp; because the translators are only translating rather than creating anything original. To quote:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p><em>This is the best of gifts: the gift of Dhamma.</em></p>
  
  <p><a href="http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/nyanaponika/wheel238.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><em>AN 9.5</em></a></p>
</blockquote>

<p>An example of 'Buddhist' copyright clauses are here: <a href="http://www.buddhanet.net/copyright.htm" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Buddhanet Copyright Details</a> and here (bottom of page): <a href="http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/dhp/dhp.16.budd.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Piyavagga: Affection</a>.</p>

<p>A discussion is here: <a href="https://dhammawheel.com/viewtopic.php?f=13&amp;t=12705&amp;sid=4b315c062f82a9c845c513e02dc70135&amp;start=20" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Copyright on the Dhamma</a> and here: <a href="https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/questions/17952/dharma-should-be-free">Dharma should be free?</a></p>

<p>The easy solution is to simply change of few words and claim it as your own translation. </p>

<p>If the Buddha was alive, he would say: "<em>Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn</em>". </p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/hcUiV.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/hcUiV.png" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/uVQES.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/uVQES.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-06-17T21:41:24.883Z
Couldn't have said it better. With metta...
Saptha Visuddhi
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-06-17T21:30:30.687Z
2017-06-17T21:37:14.027Z
2017-06-17T21:37:14.027Z
Dhamma Dhatu
<p>I think you mean "legally allowed", which isn't really a question about Buddhism (for example maybe it would be more on-topic at <a href="https://writers.stackexchange.com/">writers.se</a>).</p>

<p>Anyway my understanding is that copyright laws vary from country to country. Ancient works might not be copyright, but modern translations of those works might be copyright.</p>

<p>You might find "copyleft" or "public domain" translations, for example <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/files/2017/2017-h/2017-h.htm" rel="nofollow noreferrer">here</a>.</p>

<p>You might assume (correctly or incorrectly) that quoting a small portion counts as "fair use" and use it (possibly with attribution and without prior permission).</p>

<p>Or, getting copyright permission might be a job for your publisher (unless you self-publish).</p>

<p>Otherwise I think you get copyright by contacting the copyright-holder (who is usually identified, in a publication) and asking for permission.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-06-22T21:31:52.490Z
2017-06-22T21:31:52.490Z
ChrisW
<p>When one uses Dhamma for commercial purposes, on does nothing good for one self and for others. If one uses Dhamma to even increase unskilfull ideas, not only to make benefit from others greed (after love here) and spreads wrong view, using it, its even more worse.</p>

<p>And there is nobody who could ever give you the permission to make commercial use of the Buddhas Dhamma. Everybody doing so, is involved in a thief (in measures of Dhamma). So knowing such one might maybe seek for a dealer and fence or, after wise considerations change either this or that.</p>

<p>Here a such a live-story of same case in fencing: <a href="http://sangham.net/index.php/topic,7976.0.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">On Human Right, Kamma and trade with Dhamma</a>. They are not of much shame and if not public the trades in Dhamma, do it discrete and most would do on even if telling, even deliberatly knowing it.</p>

<p>One is the way in the world and on Nibbana, its not possible to take the other with it and that is what is the place of gaining path: by letting go of what gives just short pleasure.</p>

<p>One can ask at the worlds biggest and most succesfull public <a href="https://discourse.suttacentral.net/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">fencing place of Dhamma</a> but there are also other around, sometimes more near.</p>

<p><em>(Note: This is a gift of Dhamma and not meant for commercial purpose or other wordily gains)</em></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-06-18T08:28:21.297Z
2017-06-18T08:55:54.010Z
2017-06-18T08:55:54.010Z
Samana Johann
<p>I am writing a romance book. In it one of my character's recites a portion of the Dhammapada. If I publish my book, will I be violating any copyright laws? How would I go about getting permission to put the quote in my book?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-06-17T21:45:44.143Z
Also: https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/questions/17952/dharma-should-be-free
Dhamma Dhatu
<dhammapada><copyright>
Is it allowed to quote a Buddhist teaching in a fiction book?
# Is it allowed to quote a Buddhist teaching in a fiction book?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-06-17)

I am writing a romance book. In it one of my character's recites a portion of the Dhammapada. If I publish my book, will I be violating any copyright laws? How would I go about getting permission to put the quote in my book?

**Tags:** dhammapada, copyright

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Also: https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/questions/17952/dharma-should-be-free  

---

## 4 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2017-06-18. Score: 2

Buddhist scriptures are so old they are not under copyright. Translations maybe. Some are made freely available. Best is just ask the author or do your own translation. Also quoting a small portion may be acceptable as fair use.


---

### Answer by username_1 on 2017-06-17. Score: 1

This is a contentious issue in Buddhism because the Buddha taught the Dhamma is to be given freely & because the translators are only translating rather than creating anything original. To quote:

> *This is the best of gifts: the gift of Dhamma.*
>
> [*AN 9.5*](http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/nyanaponika/wheel238.html)

An example of 'Buddhist' copyright clauses are here: [Buddhanet Copyright Details](http://www.buddhanet.net/copyright.htm) and here (bottom of page): [Piyavagga: Affection](http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/dhp/dhp.16.budd.html).

A discussion is here: [Copyright on the Dhamma](https://dhammawheel.com/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=12705&sid=4b315c062f82a9c845c513e02dc70135&start=20) and here: [Dharma should be free?](https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/questions/17952/dharma-should-be-free)

The easy solution is to simply change of few words and claim it as your own translation.

If the Buddha was alive, he would say: "*Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn*".

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/hcUiV.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/hcUiV.png)

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/uVQES.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/uVQES.jpg)

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: Couldn't have said it better. With metta...  

---

### Answer by username_4 on 2017-06-22. Score: 0

I think you mean "legally allowed", which isn't really a question about Buddhism (for example maybe it would be more on-topic at [writers.se](https://writers.stackexchange.com/)).

Anyway my understanding is that copyright laws vary from country to country. Ancient works might not be copyright, but modern translations of those works might be copyright.

You might find "copyleft" or "public domain" translations, for example [here](https://www.gutenberg.org/files/2017/2017-h/2017-h.htm).

You might assume (correctly or incorrectly) that quoting a small portion counts as "fair use" and use it (possibly with attribution and without prior permission).

Or, getting copyright permission might be a job for your publisher (unless you self-publish).

Otherwise I think you get copyright by contacting the copyright-holder (who is usually identified, in a publication) and asking for permission.


---

### Answer by username_5 on 2017-06-18. Score: -1

When one uses Dhamma for commercial purposes, on does nothing good for one self and for others. If one uses Dhamma to even increase unskilfull ideas, not only to make benefit from others greed (after love here) and spreads wrong view, using it, its even more worse.

And there is nobody who could ever give you the permission to make commercial use of the Buddhas Dhamma. Everybody doing so, is involved in a thief (in measures of Dhamma). So knowing such one might maybe seek for a dealer and fence or, after wise considerations change either this or that.

Here a such a live-story of same case in fencing: [On Human Right, Kamma and trade with Dhamma](http://sangham.net/index.php/topic,7976.0.html). They are not of much shame and if not public the trades in Dhamma, do it discrete and most would do on even if telling, even deliberatly knowing it.

One is the way in the world and on Nibbana, its not possible to take the other with it and that is what is the place of gaining path: by letting go of what gives just short pleasure.

One can ask at the worlds biggest and most succesfull public [fencing place of Dhamma](https://discourse.suttacentral.net/) but there are also other around, sometimes more near.

*(Note: This is a gift of Dhamma and not meant for commercial purpose or other wordily gains)*


---

