The Royal Copyright As Seen On The KJV New Testament Page: The original 1611 King James Version Bible shows  at the very bottom the state licensed restricted privilege  to print under contract-- "Cum Privilegio"  ("with privilege/right") This original 1611 King James Version Bible was a state sanctioned edition printed by the denominations of men "under government privilege" (i.e. "copyright")  The same applies to  KJV's since that time.   The Bible student must therefore search the ancient  Greek and Hebrew manuscripts to seek out God's Word.   Below is an original print 1613 King James Bible by the same printer showing the state printing license words  at the end of the OT as "Cum Privilegio Regiae Maieftatis"  ( "with privilege from his Royal Majesty)  Note bottom left page.    The printing of Bibles in England was restricted to those having the Crown State privilege to do so under permission granted by men.    As we see from the 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica, the process of copyrighting printed matter began right after the Reformation:  ( subject " "Press Laws")  quote below: "In England.... After the Reformation the greater part of the rights of censorship passed to the Crown, which at the same time assumed the power of granting by letters patent the right of printing or selling books as a monopoly. The grant, if made to the author himself, was an equivalent of copyright; if made to a person other than the author, it seems to have always been subject to the authors copyright as it existed at common law...Under Mary printing was confined to members of the Stationers Company, founded by royal charter in 1556. Under Elizabeth the Star Chamber assumed the right to confine printing to London, Oxford and Cambridge, to limit the number of printers and presses, to prohibit all publications issued without proper license, and to enter houses to search for unlicensed presses and publications (Order of 1585, Strypes Whitgift, app. 94)." end quote      The print on the Testaments or title pages of the original 1611 King James Version Bible stating "Cum Privilegio" ('with privilege' of the English Crown government) has the similar meaning at law as does an American printed Bible "copyright" ('with privilege' of the United States government).  The linguistics and places have just changed slightly with no effect on the meaning.  They are of the same intent. BACK