The other day we received a letter from a lawyer in Amsterdam on behalf of his client, Landmark Education. Landmark Education requests that we immediately remove the link to the video in question because, they allege the documentary violates Landmark copyright by ‘reproducing large portions of its copyrighted work, the Landmark Forum Manual.’ The letter suggests that our link to the video encourages third parties to violate Landmark Education’s copyright.
Anton Hein, publisher of Apologetics Index and Religion News Blog certainly has run up against his share of angry people over the years. The lawsuit names Google, YouTube and Internet Archives.
The self-help group wants the link to a French documentary removed from Apologetics Index.Â
Landmark Education claims the French TV documentary violates copyright laws by showing portions of it’s copyrighted Landmark Forum manual. The concerns were dealt with and settled in France.
The documentary was made in 2003 by a program called Pieces a Conviction and is entitled “Voyage Au Pays Des Nouveaux Gourous.”
The documentary began appearing online in September 2006. In October 2006 Landmark Education subpoenaed Google, YouTube and Internet Archives demanding details of the identities of people who had posted the documentary. This (demand) can be done pursuant to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, a piece of United States legislation which allows content-owners to issue subpoenas to identify alleged infringers — even without filing a lawsuit. (added: the DMCA does not require turning over information based on a request)
Sometimes I think we forget there are a lot of people behind the scenes fighting for our freedom to keep information open and available online. The Apologetics Index has been one of the most valuable educational sites I’ve had the opportunity to learn from over the years. Anton has chosen not to remove the link to the documentary at this stage.
The Electronic Frontier Foundation has step forward to help challenge the Landmark Education suit and is standing with Internet Archives. The EFF will file motions next week on behalf of Google and YouTube has sent the Landmark notification to the poster. The Rick Ross Institute was threatened in 2005.
The information regarding Apologetic Index and Landmark Education is here.
The Electronic Frontier Foundation information is here.
The ISP of The Cult Awareness and Information Centre in Australia has also been threatened legally.
The Apologetics Index entry on what was formerly known as EST, The Forum, currently Landmark Education.
The Cult Awareness and Information Centre Australia.
I stand with Apologetics Index.
The documentary can be found in French, subtitled in English and Hebrew.
It is available in English at Rick Ross Institute.
It is archived in French, here.
It is available from Australia, here.
Transcript in English.
Up to date information on the legal threats can be found at Wikipedia. and Cult Education Forum.
Update: November 30, 2006Â Landmark backs off
A very interesting post, and certainly goes to the pattern of legal threats and frivolous litigation and SLAPP (Strategic lawsuit against public participation) lawsuits common among Large Group Awareness Training organizations.
For more information:
http://lgattruth.blogspot.com