The Uneasy Life of Literary Translations in Institutional Repositories

Abstract

Students are often told "You don't need permission to translate a published work, but you do need permission to publish your translation." So, what do we do with translations that haven't gotten documented permission from the rights holder? You will find examples in almost every institutional repository - in World Language, Literature, and Culture Departments, for example and while some theses have temporary embargoes on them, that doesn't solve the permission problem. But acquiring the right to publish a translation of something is often a difficult process and negotiated between publishers, and not the same as seeking permission to include copyrighted materials in one's thesis. This lightning talk will raise the issue of translations in institutional repositories, look at examples of how they are being handled, and offer some suggestions for respecting intellectual property while making the process easier for all.