Dear Abuse:
Our office represents Religious Technology Center ("RTC"), Church of Scientology International ("CSI") and the L. Ron Hubbard Library, non-profit religious corporations located in Los Angeles, California, regarding intellectual property matters.
Our clients have authorized us to send you this notification of copyright and trademark infringement that is occurring through your system and request that the offending web site be removed immediately.
I. Unauthorized Use of Copyrighted Materials.
Identification of Infringing Materials
Description
URL
1. Photograph Mr. L. Ron Hubbard as a young boy.
http://www.multimania.com/tussier/babylrh.jpg
& http://www.multimania.com/tussier/lttrappe.htm
2. Photograph of Mr. Hubbard at a typewriter.
http://www.multimania.com/tussier/writing.jpg
& http://www.multimania.com/tussier/lttrappe.htm
3. Photograph of a group of people, titled "Mr. Hubbard, front row center,
with some of his first students in Phoenix, Arizona, in 1952."
http://www.multimania.com/tussier/chron7-1.jpg
& http://www.multimania.com/tussier/lttrappe.htm
4. Photograph of a book, written by L. Ron Hubbard.
http://www.multimania.com/tussier/scbook.jpg
5. Photograph of Mr. Hubbard
http://www.multimania.com/tussier/secret16.jpg
6. Photograph of Mr. Hubbard in a group
http://www.multimania.com/tussier/secret20.jpg
7. Photograph of Mr. Hubbard
http://www.multimania.com/tussier/hubbard.jpg
http://www.multimania.com/tussier/hubrambo.gif (Min fremhævning)
http://www.multimania.com/tussier/secret19.jpg
8. Photograph of Mr. Hubbard
http://www.multimania.com/tussier/portron.jpg
9. Photograph of Mr. Hubbard, resting on his hand.
http://www.multimania.com/tussier/darkside.htm
10. Photograph of Mr. Hubbard standing in front of a building on steps.
http://www.multimania.com/tussier/manor.jpg
11. Photograph of Mr. Hubbard
http://www.multimania.com/tussier/lrhface.jpg
http://www.multimania.com/tussier/lrhface2.jpg
http://www.multimania.com/tussier/bfmcover.jpg
12. Photograph of a uniformed officer, titled "L. Ron Hubbard during
World War II served as a lieutenant in the US Navy."
http://www.multamania.com/tussier/chron5-1.jpg
& http://www.multimania.com/tussier/lttrappe.htm
13. Photograph of a large ship. http://www.multmania.com/tussier/freewinds.jpg
14. Photograph of Mr. Hubbard as a young boy on a horse.
http://www.multamania.com/tussier/secret03.jpg
15. Photograph of the front of a large ship.
http://www.multimania.com/tussier/fwface.gif
16. Photograph of a collection of books and shelves of books.
http://www.multimania.com/tussier/aa2.jpg
17. Photograph of Mr. Hubbard in white looking up, while two other sailors
standby.
http://www.multimania.com/tussier/ronadept.gif
18. Photograph of a building with the words "Hubbard Dianetics Foundation"
on it.
http://www.multimania.com/tussier/immo1.gif
19. Photograph of Mr. Hubbard smiling and the ocean in the background.
http://www.multimania.com/tussier/ron.jpg
20. Photograph of a large building, above the trees.
http://www.multimania.com/tussier/harisson.jpg
21. Photograph of students
http://www.multimania.com/tussier/overbord.jpg
Identification of Copyrighted Works
Description US Copyright Registration Nos.
1. L. Ron Hubbard - Images of a Lifetime: A Photographic Biography, copyrighted by the L. Ron Hubbard Library TX 4-318-754, TX 5-010-283
2. L. Ron Hubbard - Images of a Lifetime: A Photographic Biography, copyrighted by the L. Ron Hubbard Library TX 4-318-754, TX 5-010-283
3. L. Ron Hubbard - Images of a Lifetime: A Photographic Biography, copyrighted by the L. Ron Hubbard Library TX 4-318-754, TX 5-010-283
4. Scientology: The Fundamentals of Thought book cover, copyrighted by the L. Ron Hubbard Library VA 329-745
5. L. Ron Hubbard - Images of a Lifetime: A Photographic Biography, copyrighted by the L. Ron Hubbard Library TX 4-318-754, TX 5-010-283
6. L. Ron Hubbard - Images of a Lifetime: A Photographic Biography, copyrighted by the L. Ron Hubbard Library TX 4-318-754, TX 5-010-283
7. L. Ron Hubbard - Images of a Lifetime: A Photographic Biography, copyrighted by the L. Ron Hubbard Library TX 4-318-754, TX 5-010-283
8. L. Ron Hubbard - Images of a Lifetime: A Photographic Biography, copyrighted by the L. Ron Hubbard Library TX 4-318-754, TX 5-010-283
9. L. Ron Hubbard - Images of a Lifetime: A Photographic Biography, copyrighted by the L. Ron Hubbard Library TX 4-318-754, TX 5-010-283
10. L. Ron Hubbard - Images of a Lifetime: A Photographic Biography, copyrighted by the L. Ron Hubbard Library TX 4-318-754, TX 5-010-283
11. L. Ron Hubbard Photograph VAu 116-426
12. L. Ron Hubbard: A Profile, copyrighted by CSI; also taken from the following CSI owned website: www.lronhubbardprofile.org/p_jpg/chron5.htm 1995 p. 106
13. International Scientology News, copyrighted by CSI; Freewinds, copyrighted by the FSSO Issue 2; Issue 1 1996; 1989 p. 34; pp. 4-5
14. Ron: Adventurer/Explorer, copyrighted by the L. Ron Hubbard Library 1996 p. 6
15. HighWinds: The Magazine of the Sea Organization, copyrighted by CSI Issue 16 1993 p. 8
16. L. Ron Hubbard - The Man and His Works, copyrighted by CSI 1990 pp. 46-47
17. L. Ron Hubbard - A Profile, copyrighted by CSI 1995 p. 114
18. L. Ron Hubbard - A Profile, copyrighted by CSI 1995 p. 95
19. L. Ron Hubbard - A Profile, copyrighted by CSI 1995 p. 119
20. L. Ron Hubbard - A Profile, copyrighted by CSI 1995 p. 96
21. The Auditor World Wide 41, copyrighted by the L. Ron Hubbard Library 41 1968 p. 5
Additionally, the following URLs contain photographs of advertisements, third parties and locations which were copied from a number of different promotional magazines, the copyrights of which belong to our clients:
http://www.multimania.com/tussier/directr.jpg
http://www.multimania.com/tussier/glider.jpg
http://www.multimania.com/tussier/lachurch2.jpg
http://www.multimania.com/tussier/elec.jpg
http://www.multimania.com/tussier/clearwater.jpg
http://www.multimania.com/tussier/holly2.jpg
http://www.multimania.com/tussier/hall.gif
http://www.multimania.com/tussier/lachurch.gif
http://www.multimania.com/tussier/duoditing.gif
http://www.multimania.com/tussier/courodit.gif
http://www.multimania.com/tussier/cinema.gif
http://www.multimania.com/tussier/adieu.jpg
http://www.multimania.com/tussier/stats2.jpg
http://www.multimania.com/tussier/puissance.jpg
http://www.multimania.com/tussier/flag.jpg
http://www.multimania.com/tussier/apollo.gif
http://www.multimania.com/tussier/trs2.jpg
http://www.multimania.com/tussier/dianetic.jpg
Our clients have obtained numerous permanent injunctions concerning Internet infringements of other copyrighted works. For instance, in May 1998, a jury in the United States District Court in San Jose, California assessed damages in the amount of $75,000 against a Mr. Henson for copyright infringement on the Internet. Mr. Henson was also permanently enjoined by the court against further infringements. A United States District Court in the state of Virginia granted judgment for damages, costs, and a permanent injunction related to similar copyright infringement. Permanent injunctions have also been entered in three additional U.S. cases.
Similar results have been reached in Europe. On September 14, 1998, a Swedish court enjoined a defendant who engaged in similar infringements, in addition to finding that his actions in placing our client's copyrighted works on the Internet violated the owner's rights under Swedish copyright law. He was also fined for his illegal actions and ordered to pay $161,000 in litigation costs. This judgment was appealed and subsequently affirmed on March 9, 2001. Thereafter, this same infringer was separately found guilty of criminal violations of the copyright act with respect to RTC's materials. In fact, the judgment went a step further by stating: "Since the purpose was to cause injury, the penalty imposed cannot be merely a fine. Accordingly, penalties are imposed of a conditional sentence plus day fines." That judgment became final on October 4, 2001.
On June 9, 1999, a Dutch court found an individual and numerous Internet service providers had engaged in copyright infringement by posting, or hosting, our clients' copyrighted works on their web sites. The court ruled that the service providers must remove such postings as soon as they are notified of them, subject to a penalty of $2,500 for each day on which they do not comply.
These copyrighted works have been posted on your web site without the authorization of our clients in violation of French and United States copyright law. We request that these works be removed immediately.
II. Unauthorized Use Of Registered Trademarks
RTC is also the owner of the trademarks and service marks of the Scientology religion. Your subscriber has also placed the following registered trademarks belonging to RTC on your web site, without RTC's authorization, as follows:
1. Scientology Symbol: This trademark is registered with the Institut National De La Propriete Industrielle under registration number 1,253,252;
2. Scientologie: This trademark is registered with the Institut National De La Propriete Industrielle under registration number 1,284,885;
3. Scientology Cross: This trademark is registered with the Institut National De La Propriete Industrielle under registration number 1,212,029;
4. Dianetique: This trademark is registered with the Institut National De La Propriete Industrielle under registration number 1,284,883; and
5. L. Ron Hubbard Signature: This trademark is registered with the Institut National De La Propriete Industrielle under registration number 1,284,884.
These trade and service marks have been placed on your subscriber's web site through use of Lycos' system under the following URLs:
http://www.multimania.com/tussier/scientog.jpg
http://www.multimania.com/tussier/trs1.jpg
http://www.multimania.com/tussier/croixsci.gif
http://www.multimania.com/tussier/sciento2.jpg
http://www.multimania.com/tussier/darkside.htm
This subscriber's unauthorized use of these marks may constitute depreciation of goodwill, and trademark infringement, serious legal offenses for which damages may be payable and an injunction ordered against the offending party.
Furthermore, his unauthorized use of our client's trademarks on your web site in this manner has caused your name to be falsely associated with our client's federally registered marks as owner and creates a likelihood of confusion as to the source or sponsorship of this web site, in violation of United States state and federal law, including the Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. 1125(a), various state and federal laws, in addition to violations of international law.
In addition, these federally registered trademarks are distinct, unique and
famous. Accordingly, your subscriber's use of these marks dilutes and tarnishes
the distinctiveness of the marks in violation of the U.S. federal trademark
antidilution statute, 15 U.S.C. 1125(c) and California's antidilution statute.
See, Archdiocese of St. Louis v. Internet Entertainment Group, Inc., 34 F.Supp.2d
1145 (E.D. Mo. 1999); Mattel, Inc. v. Internet Dimensions, Inc.,
55 U.S.P.Q.2d 1620 (S.D.N.Y. 2000); Deere & Co. v. MTD Products, Inc., 41
F.3d 39, 43 (2nd Cir. 1994).
Action Requested
Your subscriber's action in placing these copyrighted works and trademarks on your web site violates United States and French copyright and trademark law. Accordingly, we ask that these works and marks be removed immediately.
I appreciate your courtesy and attention to this matter. If you need anything further, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Ava Paquette
Moxon & Kobrin
3055 Wilshire Boulevard
Suite 900
Los Angeles, California 90010
Tel: (213) 487-4468
Fax: (213) 487-5385