papal copyright

["Jim O'Donnell" <provost@georgetown.edu>]

THE Vatican has been accused of trying to cash in on the Pope's 
words after it decided to impose strict copyright on all papal 
pronouncements.

For the first time all papal documents, including encyclicals, 
will be governed by copyright invested in the official Vatican 
publishing house, the Libreria Editrice Vaticana.

The edict covers Pope Benedict XVI's first encyclical, which is 
to be issued this week amid huge international interest. The 
edict is retroactive, covering not only the writings of the 
present pontiff -- as Pope and as cardinal -- but also those of 
his predecessors over the past 50 years. It therefore includes 
anything written by John Paul II, John Paul I, Paul VI and John 
XXIII.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0%2c%2c13509-2005615%2c00.html

Jim O'Donnell
Georgetown U.