CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY ORGANIZATIONS
                  SUE COMPUTER COPYRIGHT INFRINGER

    -- Law Enforcement Officers seize evidence of infringement --

     Law Enforcement Officers, enforcing a federal court order obtained
by the Church of Scientology, raided the Glendale, California residence
of Dennis Erlich today, seizing computer software and other materials
Erlich used in what the court order condemned as copyright infringement
on the Internet computer network.

     According to the complaint filed by Bridge Publications Inc.  (BPI)
-- the Church of Scientology's publishing company -- and Religious
Technology Center (RTC) -- holder of the Dianetics and Scientology
trademarks -- seizure of the items was necessary to halt rampant
unlawful conduct after Erlich refused to cease illegal posting of
copyrighted religious materials on the Internet.  Apart from seizure and
a restraining order against further unlawful conduct by Erlich, the suit
seeks $100,000 for each of several infringements.

     The complaint recounts numerous attempts made by the Church's
lawyers to persuade Erlich to halt his unlawful infringements of
copyrights through repeated unauthorized postings of the Church's
religious scriptures.  Erlich not only refused, but boasted on the
Internet that he would continue his infringements and that "[n]o local
government or court in the US has the power to tell me otherwise."

     The complaint also chronicles Erlich's history of legal scuffles
with the Church but, according to statements from former associates, he
has also exhibited violent behavior which has included wife-beating and
execution style killing of his child's pets.

     The infringement complaint also charges that some of the materials
Erlich has posted on the Internet could only have been obtained through
theft.  The federal judge in San Jose, where the suit was filed,
recognized the gravity of the situation, the extent of the unlawful
conduct, and authorized the raid.

     "Internet is an invaluable and open forum of free discussion and
information exchange," said long-time copyright attorney Tom Small, "But
with freedom comes responsibility.  The vast majority of those who use
the Internet abide by the law and respect the rights of others."

     Also named as parties in the suit are Erlich's gateways onto the
Internet: Tom Klemesrud, the systems operator of Erlich's bulletin board
service, and Netcom On-Line Communication Services, which provides
Internet access for that BBS.

     The issue of copyright infringement on the Internet has become
increasingly explosive and courts have come out strongly against abusers
of copyrights and trademarks.  Maintaining a free flow of communication
along the information highway has also become a controversial topic in
the media.

     In April 1994, a San Francisco federal court issued a preliminary
injunction against Internet user Chad Scherman and the "Maphia" bulletin
board service after evidence showed that unauthorized copies of Sega
video games had been uploaded onto the BBS, encouraged by Scherman who
profited financially from the illegal postings.  Scherman's "fair use"
defense was rejected by the Court.

     "Erlich has attempted to misdirect and misinform the media about
actions taken by the Church to protect its copyrights, and so divert
attention from his wrongdoing.  Fortunately, only a few reporters have
fallen for his deception," said Church counsel Helena Kobrin, "but those
who have done so not out of any particular support for Erlich, but
rather as an expression of their own bias and prejudice."

     Kobrin added that, "If individuals like Erlich are allowed to
continue violating the law, then the greater the likelihood that
Internet freedoms will be abridged by government regulations, thus
curtailing everyone's rights."

--
Lee Holzinger
leeh@rain.org
-------------------