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Release date March 24, 2008



Summary

The collected secret "bibles" of Scientology, a global cult founded by science fiction author and con-man L. Ron Hubbard and popularized by the membership of Hollywood celebrities such as Tom Cruise. Most of the document has, ironically, been verified by a Scientology (Religious Technology Center) legal demand to Wikileaks to remove the material (see 'Note' below). A portion of the material is in Hubbard's distinctive handwriting. An analysis of the PDF metadata dates the document collection to 1995. The documents appear to have been smuggled out by a break-away Scientology group collectively known as the "Freezone". In Scientology terminology the materials represent "OT" ("Operating Thetan") levels I to VIII and "NOTs". Some of the materials have previously appeared, most notably in the so-called "Fishman affidavit", although the cult has been very aggressive in preventing public dissemination. Others, for example, the highest level, "OT VIII" appear to be original to this collection.

A former Scientologist contacted by Wikileaks and well known to have studied OT8, states that material marked "OT8 (old)" formed part of his studies but that he does not have a recollection of "OT8 (new)" (which the text describes as having been put together based on the recall the "Freezone" scientologists).

BBC interviews Scientology lawyer about the document: http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/radio4/ipm/ipm_20080412-1843.mp3 (starts about half way, abridged, but gives lawyers name and context)

BBC interviews Scientology lawyer about the document: http://pnt.splashcast.net/assets/03/audio/upload-189633.mp3 (raw interview)

Wikileaks has received the following legal demand from Scientology in relation to the material: To: Legal@sunshinepress.org Subject: Unauthorized Use of Copyrighted Materials From: ampaquette@aol.com Date: Thu, 27 Mar 2008 07:40:22 +0000 (GMT) Dear Legal: Our office represents Religious Technology Center ("RTC"), the owner of the confidential Advanced Technology of the Scientology religion and the holder of exclusive rights under the copyrights applicable to the Advanced Technology materials. The Advanced Technology materials are unpublished, copyrighted works. RTC's works include, among others, the individual works comprising levels known as "NOTs," "OT II," and "OT III." These works are registered with the United States Copyright Office under registration numbers TXu 257 326 and 257 527, TXu 303 388, and TXu 290 496. Someone has placed RTC's Advanced Technology works on Wikileaks.org's website without the authorization of our client. These infringements can be found under the following URLs: http://wikileaks.org/wiki/Church_of_Scientology_collected_Operating_Thetan_documents http://wikileaks.org/leak/scientology-ot-levels.pdf Please be advised that your customer's action in this regard violates United States copyright law. Accordingly, we ask for your help in removing these works immediately from your service. Under the U.S. Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C. § 106, it is unlawful to reproduce or distribute someone else's copyrighted work without that person's authorization. See, BMG Music v. Gonzalez, 430 F.3d 888 (7th Cir. 2005) (acknowledging that posting copyright materials on the Internet constitutes copyright infringement citing In re Aimster Copyright Litigation, 334 F.3d 643, 645 (7th Cir. 2003). Indeed, courts have entered numerous permanent injunctions and awarded statutory damages and attorneys' fees regarding infringement of these and similar works. For instance, a jury in the United States District Court in San Jose, California awarded RTC $75,000 in statutory damages, and statutory attorney's fees and a permanent injunction were imposed against a Mr. Henson for posting one of the NOTs works on the Internet. A Virginia United States District Court granted RTC judgment for damages, costs, and a permanent injunction related to similar wholesale copyright infringement, in addition to permanent injunctions that were entered in another three copyright cases related to similar infringements in the United States. Likewise, a Swedish court enjoined a defendant who engaged in infringements of these same Advanced Technology works, in addition to finding that his actions in placing those works on the Internet violated our client's rights under Swedish copyright law. RTC v. Panoussis, Judgment of the Stockholm District, Division 7, case T-7-886-96. He was also fined for his illegal actions and ordered to pay litigation costs. The decision by Stockholm District Court was upheld on appeal. We also ask that you preserve any and all documents pertaining to this matter and this customer, including, but not limited to, logs, data entry sheets, applications -- electronic or otherwise, registrations forms, billings statements or invoices, computer print-outs, disks, hard drives, etc. I have a good faith belief, and in fact know for certain, that posting copies of these works through your system was not authorized by my client, any agent of my client, or the law. I declare under penalty of perjury that this information is accurate and that I am authorized to act on behalf of RTC in this matter. I appreciate your prompt attention to this matter. Sincerely, Ava Paquette Moxon & Kobrin 3055 Wilshire Boulevard Suite 900 Los Angeles, California 90010 Tel: (213) 487-4468 Fax: (213) 487-5385

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PDF document, version 1.0

SHA256 c3c4977e9b31de16ce9ca0af0dd31ac0e526a3a51a341adcae0b27f9b7be190c



