AAWS letters – Silkworth.net

A half truth is a full lie

Gary Glynn, chairman of Alcoholics Anonymous general Service Board, Inc., New York reported wrongly:

In 1993, an individual in Germany communicated with the General Service Offices in both Germany and the U.S./Canada about his intention to publish his own translation of the Big Book. ... After lengthy correspondence ... he went ahead and published his book anyway.

Correspondence was started by Matthew in 1994 (not 1993), because of his intention to publish a German edition of "Avec les Alcooliques Anonymes" by Joseph Kessel of the 1960 Editions Gallimard - Paris.This book contains two stories from the of the Big Book.

click on document thumbnails contents To AAWS Jan18, 1994 information that we publish material others do not want to publish asking for permission to make big book stories available to Germans asking for advice, if copyright was handled correctly in the past Several articles by AA member Karl M. were first published in the German monthy AA magazine. In 1992 on request of some AA members and according to author's will I reprinted these articles in the booklet "Genesung oder Katastrophe". Of course, steps and traditions were listed in the appendix giving what I thought to be proper source information "Copyright (c) AA World Service Inc. New York" exactly as requested by the German General Service Conference in 1989.Very quick answer from AAWS Jan18, 1994 complaint that steps & traditions were properly listed without first requesting approval from AAWS use of a disclaimer other than usual requested [allegedly] these stories were given to AA with the understanding that they would appear in the Big Book only, therefore permission was not their's to give. 1. This complaint was pretty unjust. Anybody may legally quote small parts from another publication as long as the proper source info is given.
2. Though superficially in line with AA's "singleness of purpose" I felt AAWS' strong request for such an unusual disclaimer was rather a request to worship their desire for control, power and prestige than a real legal necessity.
3. If that was true, why could two stories legally appear in Joseph Kessels's book?To AAWS Jan21, 1994 it is probably untrue, that those stories were to appear in the big book only, because others already reprinted them in part we would not take action if German GSO or any AA group would be ready to publish translations of the original stories a) in the German edition of the Big Book itself b) in the monthly AA magazine or c) in a separate printing quotation rules were followed. So what is AAWS' problem with that? Motives questionable. examples for many other publications having no such unusual disclaimer adding the word "only" is probably not 100% in line with the AA message no copyright on 1st and 2nd edition of the big book public domain material needs no permission for publication Appendix: Why is Hazelden allowed to do what they claim to be a deadly sin? From AAWS March10, 1994 AAWS Inc. secretary wirtes: With regard to the stories from the 3rd edition of the Big Book, we certainly appreciate your good intent, but as I explained, permission is not ours to give. However certainly, there is no problem if the writer of these stories approves of using them. Apparently they do not own the copyright on the stories. To AAWS March 11, 1994 Who else is "to give permission"? In case we get this permission from the author, are we then allowed to translate and reprint these stories? Is that what you say? How come that the permission for reprinting the stories was "yours to give" conerning A.A. G.S.O. Great Britain? Are you willing to support our "good intent" or are you just seeking arguments to avoid such support? proposal for a settlement re: disclaimer text As John Bragg said, you don't have any rights and your permission is not necessary at all? Some legal considerations ... From AAWS May18, 1994
After a long period of silence and consultation with their lawyers, AAWS now takes a hard position. purchase of big books in the US and re-sale in Europe prohibited [unlawful request §17,2 UrhG] making a translation of public domain 1st edition and any distribution prohibited even an obtained permission from the author of a translation would not be sufficient
AAWS as owner of the copyright in the entire Big Book ... [Now permission is their's to give?!] AAWS will not grant permission to use or make translations use of a disclaimer will not permit use or translation of excerpts