Battleangel

And Scientology lost. Well boohoo. A big win for freedom of expression, opponents of frivolous copyrights and the Church of Scientology. Worthwhile causes to which I think we can all subscribe.

P2PNet - Writer Karin Spaink published the account on her website, hosted by XS4ALL, leading to a copyright infringement claim by Scientology in 1995. While recognizing Scientology’s copyright, the Court of Appeals found that Spaink’s publication should be allowed on the basis of article 10 ECHR (freedom of speech), especially since it has an informative, non-commercial character, and the Church of Scientology shows anti-democratic objectives.

Scientology appealed the decision to the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court’s legal counsel advised that the appeal should be rejected, not so much because copyright had to yield for the freedom of speech, but because with the initial submission of the contested texts to the American Court’s library, where it was available to the public, the Church can no longer prohibit the “further communication to the public or reproduction” under provision 15b of the Dutch Copyright Act [English Version].

After this advice Scientology asked the Supreme Court to grant a withdraw of the appeal, if not to avoid another condemnation.

For some thoughts on this from a front organization of the COS, there is always the so called “Religious Freedom Watch” that have listed Spaink for being an “anti-religious extremist.” Knowing the sort of underhand tactics they employ and the support they receive from the US government, they need to be eliminated from our soil swiftly and decisively. Lets show them some real “extremism” and give them something to cry about shall we.