Michael
Not so.
Stephen King and others would have to apply for Translated copyright protection in other languages. Take it to the bank...
I know this because I own the English copyright for "the Taliban Gazette" which was written in native pashto/dari. I had it translated and got a lawyer to file with library of congress. There is a special legal term for the principle, just can't think of it.(btw, 99% of authors do this pre-emptively, Mullah Omar fortunately fell in the 1%)
Check out the link below, I have a professor of Islamic law from UCLA writing the foreword and publisher lined up. Interesting details on site, scary stuff these folks were about.

Warmest regards
Michael Madden
> Philip:

> The creator of the Work owns the copyright
> to it... and all versions of it.

> In other words... you cannot translate it
> and then own the copyright. If that were
> possible, all someone would have to do is
> translate a work to a different language
> then back to English. The new English
> version would be slightly different than the
> original because something is always lost in
> the translation. And the creator of the Work
> would see an almost identicle Work out there
> that does not violate copyright.

> Suddenly, authors like Stephen King and Dean
> Koontz would be out a LOT of money because
> their works are available in different
> languages.

> If you have seen another's Work and wish to
> turn it to English... or turn it from
> English to another language... contact the
> copyright holder and ASK them for
> permission.

> Michael Ross

> I am NOT a copyright lawyer. The above is
> only my opinion. For proper legal advice
> consult with a qualified legal person.




I own the English copyright for this Taliban manifesto