The King James Version (Authorized) Copyright and Usage Information The King James Version of the Holy Bible (also known as the Authorized Version) is one of the most important Bible translations ever made in the English language. Although its language is now rather archaic, it was rather controversial in 1611 because it was a translation into the English spoken by the common people at the time, so that all could read and clearly understand what God was saying to us. This translation of the Holy Bible is in the Public Domain, except for in Great Britain, so feel free to copy.