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In trying to STUMP THE LIBRARIAN regarding the Public Research Foundation's
Press Release, "HIDDEN TIES BETWEEN IRS AND SCIENTOLOGY REVEALED," Zed
looked around at the empty library, just before closing time, and asked
softly:
>How did CST acquire authority over Scientology-related
>trademarks?
GOOD QUESTION, ZED, BUT...YOU DIDN'T STUMP THE LIBRARIAN!
Why, Zed! Are you being coy with me? The answer to that is in the document
you already referenced in your post: the U.S. Claims Court ruling available
from Maureen Garde's website at http://superlink.net/user/mgarde/ct_cl.92
(and now also available on Andreas Heldal-Lund's wonderful page of court
documents, which you can get to through Operation Clambake).
In that ruling, Judge Eric G. Bruggink says that CST has "two options over
the marks and technology... . The first option is to take control of the
trademarks on published LRH works and the insignia of various
organizations. The second option is over the Advanced Technology. CST has
the option, exercisable at its sole discretion, to take over use and
authority of the marks from RTC..."
Later, the good judge goes on:
"Presumably if CST exercises its option over RTC, it would be able to
control those marks as well, thereby completing its ownership of the
publishing rights, the advanced technology, and the marks."
Just to make it crystal clear, the judge expands this theme:
"CST has the power to dismantle RTC by taking over the religious trademarks
and use of the Advanced Technology, thereby gaining direct control over all
Scientology organizations that purchase trademarked material."
Not enough, you say? Well, the judge has more:
"The religious trademarks and rights to the Advanced Technology constitute
most of the income-producing property owned by any of the Scientology
organizations. The remainder of LRH's income-producing property is already
designated for CST. ... In these circumstances, it is at best disingenuous
for CST to maintain that it is 'independent' of Scientology's
ecclesiastical hierarchy. ...CST stands poised to assume a position at the
apex of a pyramid of both ecclesiastical authority and financial control
over Scientology."
(Fanning *hard*) My goodness, I feel faint! Why, the *power* that Lyman
Spurlock, Meade Emory, and Sherman Lenske weild just turns my knees to
*jelly*. *Especially* considering the recent "alter-ego" ruling. Why, jeez,
maybe... . Oh, this is just too much for a little librarian like me. I'll
just shut up and let the judge talk:
"CST has stated on at least one occasion that 'it will exercise its options
and acquire the marks and materials.' ...If CST succeeds in its quest for
exempt status, it will control the trademark and publishing rights to all
of LRH's works. Those rights constitute most of Scientology's
income-producing property."
(Phew!) Well, there you go, Zed. If you notice, though, *somebody* set it
up so that CST wouldn't get all those goodies and have all that power
unless it got what DM called a "government stamp of approval" (tax
exemption). Now, that wouldn't be *Meade's* work, setting it up that way,
would it? (Where is my fingernail file when I need it?) Of course, we
*know* it was really LRH who set it up that way, given his love for the IRS
and all. I mean, gosh, everybody knows how much he thought of the IRS, and
I just bet he really felt a lot of luv for a guy like Meade, who was there
at the IRS during most of the period when that poor IRS was being
*victimized* by those nasty old G.O. guys. You know that's the way it was,
because the guvmint sez so. And so LRH probably felt *sympathy* for Meade,
being made a victim that way, and wanted to *repay* him and his cronies by
making sure *they* got control of his copyrights and trademarks, instead of
that bad old Mary Sue and those *kids* of his. Do you like this color for
my nails. I can't make up my mind. Whaddaya' think?
---------------------------------------------------------------
NICE TRY, ZED, AND COME BACK *ANY* TIME TO PLAY...
STUMP THE LIBRARIAN.
P.S. Zed, *all* that information was in a document *you* already *had*!
Now, if there's any more of this, I'm going to have to set up some private
tutorial sessions with you for remedial reading. Look up your words, you
naughty boy!
So, uh, what's under the coat, Zed? (I *did* tell you this was a strip
challenge, didn't I?)
--<The ARSCC Librarian>
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*The ARSCC, like its goose-bumped, jelly-kneed and (well--it's *cold* in
here) tightly-sweatered librarian, does not exist.