Religious Technology Ctr. v. Lerma

40 U.S.P.Q.2d 1569 (1989)

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Religious Technology Ctr. v. Lerma

United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
40 U.S.P.Q.2d 1569 (1989)

Facts

Lerma (defendant) posted online the sacred texts of the Church of Scientology, called the Operating Thetan Documents (OTDs), over which the Religious Technology Center (RTC) (plaintiff) held copyright. The Church of Scientology followed strict protocols over the distribution and disclosure of the texts, limiting them to only certain church members and storing them in guarded vaults, and requiring nondisclosure agreements from all church members. Lerma posted to a website substantial portions of the texts with little or no commentary. RTC sued Lerma for copyright infringement.

Rule of Law

Issue

Holding and Reasoning (Brinkema, J.)

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