Newsgroups: alt.religion.scientology
From: dennis.l.erlich@support.com
Subject: RE: Copyrighted documents?
Message-ID: <9508291517.0LHP703@support.com>
References: <41i9rl$502@blackrabbit.cs.uoregon.edu>
Organization: L.A. Valley College Public BBS (818)985-7150
X-Mailer: TBBS/PIMP v3.35
Distribution: world
Date: Tue, 29 Aug 95 15:17:54 -0700
Lines: 34


bhelm@cs.uoregon.edu (B. Robert Helm) asks:

>Why are critic of scientology posting copyrighted documents in full,
>uncommented?
>
>I understand that the documents for which A. Lerma was raided were
>from public records, and freely available for copying until recently.
>However, does it follow that such documents may be legally
>redistributed?
>
>If not, why would critics of Scientology expose themselves to a
>copyright lawsuit by the church?  Why not just post and ridicule
>excerpts of the documents, for instance?
>
>A confused (ex-)lurker.

    Excuse me.

    I am not in the same position as other critics who have
    posted the Saykrid Seekrit Scieno Droppings.  But, if I might
    hazzard a guess at the answer to your question, I'd say that
    they posted it to point up a serious conflict between the
    copyright law (as it is being interpreted by the scienos), and
    the overwelming need for public disclosure of the cult's
    fraudulent and criminal nature.                
    
    But remember, that's just a guess.
    
            +--------------------------------------+
           Rev. Dennis L Erlich  * * the inFormer * *
      dennis.l.erlich@support.com  +  inForm@primenet.com
                           "tar baby"