Position Paper: Unauthorized Translations
Urantia Foundation has been working for more than six years on a quality Korean translation. This translation has been completed and was recently introduced at the Seoul International Book Fair.
The Foundation’s Russian translation was completed in 1997. To date over one thousand copies have been sold or given to grateful students in countries of the former Soviet Union, as well as in the United States.
It is argued by some that alternate translation efforts, which are not authorized by Urantia Foundation, are justified because they fall into the category of secondary works, thereby assisting readers in their study of the book. We disagree. The Foundation’s translation policies have been carefully constructed whereby a system of checks and balances has evolved, which, we believe, results in the best possible translations.
The Foundation endeavors, in cooperation with qualified translators, to ensure that true and beautiful translations, in the highest possible language of the culture, are done and delivered to truth seekers around the world. Anyone wishing to assist in the translation project is considered, but the text is never made public until it has been carefully reviewed and finally approved. We do not wish to deliver a partial, incomplete version of the fifth epochal revelation to the public. Duplication of translations are both unnecessary and unwise. It would be irresponsible and unfair to our non-English speaking brothers and sisters to inflict confusion upon their study groups by giving them different texts to study.
In 1997, after the Foundation’s ownership of the copyright was validated by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, Fellowship representatives made the following proposal:
The Trustees agreed to all of these proposals, adding that the Fellowship could keep all of its unsold books and do with them whatever they pleased, provided that the books not be sold and not have the Foundation’s name in them.
In return, the Trustees asked for one thing. They requested that the Fellowship act cooperatively with, or at least not antagonistically toward, the Foundation. Specifically, the Trustees requested that the leadership of the Fellowship not publicly speak disparagingly about the Foundation, the Trustees, the Foundation staff, or the leadership of the International Urantia Association. The Fellowship’s representatives agreed to the Trustees’ request. Has the Fellowship kept its agreement? You be the judge.
Have the leaders of the Fellowship kept their agreement with the Foundation to act cooperatively with, or at least not antagonistically toward, the Foundation? Have they kept their agreement not to speak publicly disparagingly about the Foundation? Is the leadership of the Fellowship or are certain leaders of the Fellowship breaking the law?
The Fellowship and every Fellowship Society pledges “obedience and subservience to the laws of this country and all countries wherein they extend.”
We have reason to believe that there has been a well planned strategy among certain members of the Fellowship, some of whom are on the General Council and Executive Committee, to entice Urantia Foundation back into court with another copyright challenge. Apart from Mr. McMullan’s repeated statements that he would invite a lawsuit from the Foundation in an effort to break the Foundation’s ownership of the copyright in Part IV, he has printed, in the front of his illegal publication of Part IV of The Urantia Book, the following: “All proceeds from book sales are dedicated to the continued availability of this work in English and, as soon as possible, other languages.” (our emphasis.) This indicates that the continuation of work on unauthorized translations by other Fellowship related people or groups is with the expectation that the Foundation will lose its copyright. This is quite disturbing in the light of recent attempts to bring unity and cooperation back into the Urantia community.
May we all follow the Master’s example, which the book describes on page 1580, paragraph 4:
In his personal life he was always duly observant of all civil laws and regulations....
And then there are the Master’s never-to-be-forgotten words:
“Render to Caesar the things which are Caesar’s and to God the things which are God’s.”
We ask that you join us to bring unity and stabilization to the movement. We ask that you join us to end conflicts within the movement by encouraging all readers to obey the law. We desire that all of us may focus on dissemination, not on litigation. Here’s what you can do:
For further information please contact:
Tonia Baney
Executive Director, Urantia Foundation
Ph: (773) 525-3319
Fx: (773) 525-7739