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Q&A Are translated Basho poems copyrighted?

This site here says that the copyright for a translation of a work that is in the public domain belongs to the translator. It makes sense, if you think about it. Consider: if I translate, for exam...

posted 6y ago by Galastel‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

Answer
#4: Attribution notice removed by user avatar System‭ · 2019-12-12T21:57:25Z (over 4 years ago)
Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/37752
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
#3: Attribution notice added by user avatar System‭ · 2019-12-08T09:26:02Z (over 4 years ago)
Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/37752
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
#2: Initial revision by (deleted user) · 2019-12-08T09:26:02Z (over 4 years ago)
This site [here](http://bookwormtranslations.com/copyright-law-and-translation-what-you-need-to-know/) says that **the copyright for a translation of a work that is in the public domain belongs to the translator**.

It makes sense, if you think about it. Consider: if I translate, for example, the Iliad, I'd have to put lots and lots of creative effort into it, and also research etc. That's a lot of work-hours. I'd want to get paid for it, right? But if there's no copyright, then anyone can just republish the thing for free, not even mention my name, perhaps get paid for it instead of me. Not really fair, is it?

That said, some translations are themselves old enough to be in the public domain. Look [here](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_translations_of_Homer) for some translations of the Iliad from 1581 onwards, for example. Most of those would be public domain by now.

#1: Imported from external source by user avatar System‭ · 2018-07-19T20:15:15Z (almost 6 years ago)
Original score: 8