Judge Rules Scientology Critics Can Keep Materials But Can't
Disseminate
The Associated Press
September 14, 1995 10:02 EDT

Two men accused of stealing secrets from the Church of Scientology
and distributing them on the Internet must stop disseminating the
disputed materials at least temporarily, a judge has ruled.

U.S. District Judge John Kane Jr. on Tuesday ordered the return of
computer discs, documents and other equipment seized from the two
men by federal marshals during an Aug. 22 raid.

But the judge ruled that Larry Wollersheim and Robert Penny, both
former church members, must restrict distribution of what the
church considers copyright or trademark secrets, at least until the
courts can consider the copyright question further.

The men who have been researching religious cults operate a
computer network that distributes information about Scientology on
48,000 worldwide bulletin boards. The church accused them of
illegally posting stolen, internal teachings to discredit the
church.

Founded 41 years ago by science-fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard,
Scientology teaches that technology can expand the mind and help
solve problems. It has been accused of being a cult and engaging in
mind-control.

Kane ruled the men can have the discs and documents back, if they
observe copyright law that allow only portions of a copyright
document to be disseminated. The larger issue remains to be
decided, because the judge has yet to rule on whether the documents
are protected under copyright or trade secret laws.

On Wednesday, a federal appeals court granted a 48-hour stay which
puts Kane's decision on hold. Oral arguments before the court could
be next, said Tom Kelley, the lawyer representing Wollersheim and
Penny.

The case is similar to one involving the The Washington Post. A
federal judge on Aug. 30 permitted the Post to retain a copy of
Church of Scientology texts and use them in its reporting.

The paper had published excerpts of church tests that the church
said violated copyright and trade secrecy laws. But U.S. District
Judge Leonie M. Brinkema said the Post's news-gathering rights far
outweigh the church's claims.