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Welcome To Alcoholics Anonymous


Read The Big Book and Twelve and Twelve

A.A. Literature Translation Policy

Translations of A.A. Literature, Including Publication and Licensing Considerations

I. General Considerations
A. A translation of copyrighted text constitutes a derivative work, and, as such, permission of the copyright owner is required prior to undertaking the translation.
B. The AAWS policy regarding licensing and publication of AA material is based on, and guided by, the provisions of the Current Conference Charter: “In countries where a General Service Structure exists, the United States/Canada Conference will delegate sole right to publish our Conference-approved literature to the general Service Board of that country.”
C. AAWS has a policy of long-standing whereby, at the request of another General Service Structure, financial assistance for the publication of a piece of literature is provided, where appropriate (see “’Foreign Aid’---literature carries the message,” The Thirty-Fourth Annual Meeting of the General Service Conference of Alcoholics Anonymous, 1984, pg 16-17). Historically, such assistance has taken the following form: AAWS will advance the money for the publication of a particular piece of (usually, translated) literature. AAWS will retain title to the inventory, but the requesting Structure will be permitted to sell off the inventory, using a portion of the sale price to repay AAWS, and reserving a portion to finance the next printing of the piece.
D. All translations shall be made from the most recent, English language version of the work.
E. In order to be considered complete, all translations of Alcoholics Anonymous (the Big Book), regardless of how initiated, shall contain all of the front matter appearing in the U.S/Canada English language version, including The Doctor’s Opinion, and the Forewords and Preface; the basic text appearing on pages 1-164; and Dr. Bob’s Nightmare and the appendices, which are presented in the rear of the book. Whether any other material, which does not appear in the original, will be permitted to be included in the translation shall be determined on a case-by-case basis. Permission to include such additional material, where the material is in conflict with the message conveyed by the Big Book, will not be granted.
II. Translations
A. Request For Permission To Translate
    1. When AAWS receives a request from someone wishing to translate AA literature on his/her own initiative, the Publications Department will determine if there is an existing, authorized translation in the U.S. or overseas. If such a translation exists, the request will be denied. If a translation does not exist, the requesting party will be asked to translate some representative portions of the work (e.g., Chapter 5, plus an additional chapter or two in Alcoholics Anonymous), so that the translation might be reviewed by a professional translation service for its consistency with the original text. The requesting party will also be asked to defer further work until the sample has been checked, and will be advised that, in any case, in order to obtain permission to proceed with the translation, the copyright in the translation project would have to be assigned to AAWS.

    2. Once checked, and there has been agreement to assign the copyright to AAWS, the sample will be returned to the requesting party with either permission to proceed with the translation, or with recommendations for changes. In the latter case, the party will be requested to make further submissions until a satisfactory translation is achieved.
    Upon receipt of an acceptable version of the translation, the general policies regarding possible licensing, publication, and distribution of the translation, will apply, including a determination regarding the applicability of overseas literature publication assistance.

    If, after several submissions, the translator is unable to provide an acceptable translation, then the Board will consider whether any further assistance can be given in the matter. That is, based on input from the Staff member on the Overseas Assignment, the Staff generally, and the Publications Department, the Board will determine if there is a present, compelling need for the translation; and will further determine if the budget will accommodate the expense of a translation by AAWS. If the answer is “yes” to both these questions, then the Publications Department will schedule the preparation of such a translation.

B. Request That AAWS Undertake A Translation
    1. From time to time, AAWS will receive an external request (i.e., outside of the three corporate boards) to translate (usually, including a request to publish) a piece of literature. Based on input from the Staff member on the Overseas Assignment, the Staff generally, and the Publications Department, the Board will determine if there is a present, compelling need for the translation; and will further determine if the budget will accommodate the expense of a translation by AAWS. If the answer is “yes” to both these questions, then the Publications Department will schedule the preparation of such a translation.

    2. AAWS may initiate - or, initiate upon the request of the General Service Board – the development of a translation, within its own discretion. In the exercise of its discretion, all relevant factors, including need, cost, publication, pricing, distribution, and the applicability of overseas literature assistance, will be considered by the AAWS board.

    3. On other occasions, between Board meetings, the General Manager, the Overseas Desk, or the Publications Department may receive a request to create a translation where the need is readily apparent, and where the expense involved will not meaningfully impact the budget. In such instances, General Manager may direct the Publications Department to begin development of the requested translation.

C. Translations Completed Without Prior Board Permission
    1. When AAWS receives a translation of A.A. literature that was developed without prior permission, the Publications Department will determine whether an approved translation already exists in the U.S. or overseas. If such a translation exists, the party submitting the translation will be informed, and will be asked to refrain from any further activity regarding the translation. If a translation does not exist, the party submitting the translation will be advised that the translation must be reviewed by a professional translation service for its consistency with the original text. The party will also be asked to defer any further activity regarding the translation until it has been checked; and will be advised that the copyright in the translation will have to be assigned to AAWS.

    2. Once checked, and there has been agreement to assign the copyright to AAWS, the translation will be returned to the party submitting it with recommendations for changes, and the party will be requested to make further submissions until a satisfactory translation is achieved.

      Upon receipt of an acceptable version of the translation, the general policies regarding possible licensing, publication, and distribution of the translation, will apply, including a determination regarding the applicability of overseas literature publication assistance.

      If, after several submissions, the translator is unable to provide an acceptable translation, the party submitting the translation will be asked to discontinue further translation efforts, and to refrain from any further activity with respect to the translation. The Board will then consider whether any further assistance can be given in the matter. That is, based on input from the Staff member on the Overseas Assignment, the Staff generally, and the Publications Department, the Board will determine if there is a present, compelling need for the translation; and will further determine if the budget will accommodate the expense of a translation by AAWS. If the answer is “yes” to both these questions, then the Publications Department will schedule the preparation of such a translation.

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      Note: although the personal stories in the Spanish translation were circulated for approval, it is likely that such approval occurred because AAWS publishes the Spanish translation for use in the US/Canada. It does not appear that personal stories appearing in other translations of the Big Book were the subject of AAWS approval. The caveat regarding additional material is more concerned with the addition of text that tends to amend, or otherwise modify, the substance of the basic text. For example, there was some discussion by AAWS concerning additional, explanatory text that was added to the Russian translation. The additional text was ultimately approved.