Specifications in a copyright letter

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  • I would like to translate and publish a book from English to my native language. I am not aware of the details of a copyright letter. Can you please tell me how a copyright letter should look like and what are all the terms I should look for or expect in the copyright letter?
  • Jimprince, By the term 'copyright letter,' are you referring to a letter in which you request permission from the copyright holder to allow you to translate the book into your native language? Or are you referring to a 'cease and desist' letter which you might receive from the copyright holder in objection to your use of the copyrighted book?

    We can point you to examples of each type of letter, but a bit more clarification from you would ensure that we are providing the best referral to assist you.
  • Thank you for your response. I refer to the first one i.e. I request permission from the copyright holder to allow me to translate the book into my native language? So, please give an example for this.
  • Several publishers have posted their permission-to-translate forms online, offering you model language you can adapt for your own purposes.

    The Harvard Business Review has put their request for permission form online http://harvardbusiness.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/HBPArticleChapterRepublicationForm.pdf

    The World Health Organization also posts their permission to translate form online at http://www.euro.who.int/en/what-we-publish/publication-request-forms/request-form-for-permission-to-translate

    Some more generic model permission letters are available from the website of Columbia University's Copyright Advisory Office at http://copyright.columbia.edu/copyright/permissions/requesting-permission/model-forms/
  • Thank you for the guidance and the support links.

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