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Google vs. DMCA and Scientology

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the stuff-to-read dept.

Uebergeek writes "This article at the NYTimes (free registration, blah blah) details how google is dealing with the many complaints it gets from organizations when one of its links potentially violates a copyright (or just irritates the copyright's owner). Specifically, it talks about how Google is dealing with the Scientologist's complaints about the list of the Operation Clambake site... now Google features a prominent link to another site that shows the complaint that the Scientologists filed, along with the delisted links."

4 of 369 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Spineless by ProfMoriarty · · Score: 5, Interesting
    In otherwords, Google has shuffled responsibility for the fight onto someone else. If they believe it should be listed, they should have the courage to list it themselves.

    Are you going to financially back a lawsuit if one is filed?

    THIS is what Google is attempting to avoid.

    They may be the best search engine around, but like everyone (sans Microsoft) they have very limited "off-topic" funds to fight "pointless" lawsuits.

    --
    Karma? Karma? I don't need no stinkin' karma.
  2. Re:Spineless by sckeener · · Score: 5, Interesting

    If they believe it should be listed, they should have the courage to list it themselves.

    I disagree. Google has the correct proceedure. I don't want individual companies taken down simply because they can't afford the legal fight...

    If it was just google doing this, I would have a problem. However I think google has shown other companies how to handle these type of issues....

    --
    "Only one thing, is impossible for god: to find any sense in any copyright law on the planet." Mark Twain
  3. Link to xenu.net by hsenag · · Score: 5, Interesting

    One point the article made is that the original controversy caused lots more people to link to xenu.net, pushing it up from 4th in the Google results for "Scientology" to 2nd. I'd like to encourage everyone who hasn't already done so to also do this - maybe it can be pushed up to 1st :-)

  4. I have a idea by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Let's revoke the church of scientology's tax exemption.

    Silly? I don't think so; consider:

    Churches in America don't pay taxes. They're recognised as non-profit, socially befeficial institutions and as such, it's historically been seen as worthwhile to afford them tax free status (given that they meet certian requirements).

    The Church of Scientology is tax exempt. This despite the fact that they charge for their teachings and venomously attack those that provide these teachings for free (unlike other religions). This makes them more like corporation than a religious organization. Thus, they should be treated as one. Require them to file tax documents like any corporation and be subject to audit by the IRS.

    The CoS is a cult; and there's nothing wrong with that. Cults have existed for years throughout the world, and the distinction between "legitimate" and "cult" beliefs is at best a tenuous one. But the behaviour of the church of scientology is that of a corporation (evil and vindictive, but a corporation). Let's let them have their trade secret teachings and go after people with lawsuits for publishing secret teachings and critical views of their religion; but let us also not passively fund this corporation by making it tax exempt.