Scientology's Chilling Effect on Free Speech

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Scientology's Chilling Effect on Free Speech in the News

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August 6, 2008Anonymous Returns, Scientology Responds Cringely outlines Scientology's long history of harassing journalists and critics.
September 19, 1995Court Approves Return of Scientology Materials A federal appeals court Monday stiff-armed the Church of Scientology's request to be allowed to keep boxes of information seized in raids of two Boulder County men's homes. The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals dissolved its five-day-old emergency order holding up return of the materials to Lawrence Wollersheim of Boulder and Bob Penny of Niwot, clearing the way for return of the property.
September 9, 2008DMCA Removal of Thousands of YouTube Videos - Complainant Doesn't Exist On September 4 and 5, at least 4,000 anti-Scientology videos were removed from the video sharing website, YouTube. The videos removed were done so by a single Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) notice by an alleged 'rights group' called the American Rights Counsel LLC, which Wikinews has confirmed does not exist beyond the scope of those requests.
September 27, 2001Sympathy For The Devil: The Tory Bezazian Story Tory Bezazian was a veteran Scientologist who loved going after church critics - until she met the darkest detractor of all. More than a year after her very public defection - the first in memory to occur on the Internet - Bezazian is still adapting to her transformation. She has quickly become a highly visible foe of the church she served for three decades.

Scientology's Chilling Effect on Free Speech in the News

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August 6, 1995A Chinese admin. receives email from Helena Kobrin threatening suit regarding copyright violations. A Chinese admin. receives email from Helena Kobrin threatening suit regarding copyright violations.
August 2, 1995Andrew Testa gets an even more threatening email from Helena Kobrin. Andrew Testa gets an even more threatening email from Helena Kobrin.
July 29, 1995Andrew Testa gets email from Helena Kobrin. Andrew Testa gets email from Helena Kobrin.
April 18, 2002Ava Paquette contacts Catherine Palmer alleging copyright infringement. Ava Paquette contacts Catherine Palmer alleging copyright infringement.
September 26, 2001Ava Paquette contacts Dave Touretzky alleging trademark violation. Ava Paquette contacts Dave Touretzky alleging trademark violation.
December 16, 2002Ava Paquette contacts FACTNet's ISP, sagonet.com alleging trademark violation. Ava Paquette contacts FACTNet's ISP, sagonet.com alleging trademark violation.
October 15, 2001Ava Paquette contacts Joe Lynn ("Zinjifar") alleging copyright infringement and trademark violation. Ava Paquette contacts Joe Lynn ("Zinjifar") alleging copyright infringement and trademark violation.
December 31, 1999Ava Paquette contacts Ralph Hilton alleging trademark violation. Ava Paquette contacts Ralph Hilton alleging trademark violation.
October 11, 2002Ava Paquette contacts Shane Wilson alleging trademark violation. Ava Paquette contacts Shane Wilson alleging trademark violation.
July 28, 1995Critic David Gerard receives his first EMail from Scientology lawyer Helena Kobrin. Critic David Gerard receives his first EMail from Scientology lawyer Helena Kobrin.
February 27, 1995Critic Martin Hunt gets a letter from Scientology lawyer Helena Kobrin threatening legal action. Critic Martin Hunt gets a letter from Scientology lawyer Helena Kobrin threatening legal action.
August 15, 1995David Gerard posts that Helena Kobrin has been writing to his administrator complaining about his posts (such as the parody "I a David Gerard posts that Helena Kobrin has been writing to his administrator complaining about his posts (such as the parody "I am the Very Model of a Modern Legal Criminal").
January 26, 1998Donald Cox contacts Tilman Hausherr Donald J. Cox, Jr contacts Tilman Hausherr alleging copyright infringement and trademark violation.
February 27, 1995Grady Ward gets an e-mail from Helena Kobrin threatening suit over copyright violations. Grady Ward gets an e-mail from Helena Kobrin threatening suit over copyright violations.
November 15, 1995Helena Kobrin again writes David Touretzky demanding removal of the Fishman affidavit from his web site. Helena Kobrin again writes David Touretzky demanding removal of the Fishman affidavit from his web site.
April 19, 1995Helena Kobrin contacts Andrew Burt Helena Kobrin writes to Andrew Burt, system administrator of Denver University's public-access Nyx system, complaining that the anonymous user "henry" has posted a bomb threat. "henry" says that the message posted under his username is a forgery.
April 21, 1995Helena Kobrin contacts Andrew Burt Helena Kobrin writes a second e-mail letter to Andrew Burt regarding "henry".
March 3, 1997Helena Kobrin contacts Anthony Bosnakoudis Helena Kobrin contacts Anthony Bosnakoudis alleging copyright infringement.
August 4, 1995Helena Kobrin contacts Cuthulu (Kevan Smith) alleging copyright infringement. Helena Kobrin contacts Cuthulu (Kevan Smith) alleging copyright infringement.
March 17, 1995Helena Kobrin contacts Daniel Davidson and his administrator Daniel Davidson and his administrator get an e-mail letter from Helena Kobrin alleging copyright infringement and trade secret misappropriation. As a result, Davidson is summoned to a disciplinary hearing where he has to plead (successfully, it turns out) for the right to keep his account at San Francisco State University.
April 13, 1997Helena Kobrin contacts Ex Mudder Helena Kobrin contacts Ex Mudder alleging copyright infringement.
July 29, 1995Helena Kobrin contacts Farrell Griffith alleging copyright infringement. Helena Kobrin contacts Farrell Griffith alleging copyright infringement.
April 4, 1995Helena Kobrin contacts Homer Smith Helena Kobrin calls Homer Smith 3 times about Scamizdat postings through his remailer.
September 19, 1996Helena Kobrin contacts Jeff Burchell, Huge Cajones remailer sysop alleging copyright infringement. Helena Kobrin contacts Jeff Burchell, Huge Cajones remailer sysop alleging copyright infringement.
October 13, 1996Helena Kobrin contacts Jeff Burchell, Huge Cajones remailer sysop alleging copyright infringement. Helena Kobrin contacts Jeff Burchell, Huge Cajones remailer sysop alleging copyright infringement.