Subject: Re: David Mayo arrives to ARS, Welcome David Mayo From: David Mayo Date: 1996/05/09 Message-Id: <4mst0g$5k8@light.lightlink.com> Sender: electra@light.lightlink.com Organization: Art Matrix - Lightlink Electra Gateway v2.4 Newsgroups: alt.religion.scientology I am reposting this on 9May96, with the same content and its pgp signature intact. I originally posted it on 23Jan96, (same title). -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- steve@swhitlat.com (steve) wrote: > > > > In celebration of the arrival of David Mayo=20 > to alt.religion.scientology, here's one of=20 > his affidavits. > > Welcome David Mayo. > Steve, Thank you for your welcome and for reposting the declaration (of 1st May 1987). Since this declaration includes a paragraph that has sparked off questions that I am often asked, I will take this opportunity to give an initial explanation now. Although I may be too brief, I hope to return to this subject to give a more=20 complete explanation when I have handled other, more important and more immediate, matters. (see below) > > > DAVID MAYO AFFIDAVIT > [...] > > 10. The technology of Dianetics and Scientology is a product of >the efforts of many people, including myself, and among others, Melanie >Murray, Julie Mayo, Merrill Mayo, Dona Haber, Brian Livingston, and >Phoebe Mauer. Moreover, I am the primary source of NOTs and SOLO NOTs > I did not however invent/create/come up with the idea of body thetans or the OT III(tm*) materials or the story contained therein. I did not write=20 the OT(tm*) levels that I think of and used to=20 be known as I - VII (the "old ones"). Incidentally, I think considerable confusion has existed and=20 probably still exists as to what these levels are, as some of those have changed a few times over the years, e.g., I knew of four different versions of=20 "OT I"(tm*) and that doesn't include a _possible_ new, different (5th) version of it after I left. As for NOTs(tm*) and Solo NOTs(tm*) the question of who authored that material has been the subject of extensive litigation (from 1985) and there are related appeals pending before the 9th Circuit (hearing held on November 14, 1995, awaiting decision). The statement that I consider the most accurate on authorship of these materials was made by Special=20 Master Kolts in his opinion and order of April 17, 1992: (This opinion and order was endorsed and adopted by the judge, Hon. James Ideman.) The discovery dispute regained momentum when defendants filed a motion to dismiss plaintiffs=92 copyright claims for failure to produce discovery regarding NOTs. Plaintiffs opposed the motion in their customary fashion, equivocally asserting that: (1) full discovery had been made; (2) the documents never or no longer existed; and (3) the documents=20 were not in their possession, custody or control. On April 26, 1991 the Special Master issued an order (hereinafter "the sanctions order") holding that plaintiffs had failed to comply with the discovery orders in bad faith. Plaintiffs filed a motion for reconsideration of the sanctions order. The Special Master denied the motion, held that it was "patently unreasonable" and imposed monetary sanctions. (See order dated July 2, 1991.). The Special Master=20 declined to dismiss the copyright claim but did impose an issues sanction. Pursuant to the sanctions order, plaintiffs are prohibited from denying that defendant Mayo substantially participated in the drafting of NOTs. (end excerpt) Some have advised me that it would be better for me public relations wise to not litigate on this matter and to allow the Scientology(tm*) plaintiffs' assertions that L. Ron Hubbard was the sole author, to stand. I have not done that and have held to my position that I co-authored it because that is how it was. Furthermore, I think that as an author there are certain rights that I should be able to exercise. The discovery dispute referred to in the Special Master's finding above included our discovery request that the=20 Scientology plaintiffs produce, amongst other things, the original manuscripts of the materials they alleged I had infringed and which Norman Starkey had filed copyright=20 registrations on _after_ the death of L. Ron Hubbard, but that's another story. The final "frequently asked question" for now is whether I deliver all or any of the materials referred to above. The simple, short answer is "No." A longer answer,=20 " ... and I haven't for many years." Both answers are unsatisfactorily short (both for you and me) and leave a lot of interesting information untold and an awful lot to be explained; those answers do not convey my position.=20 I wish I could. Suffice it to say that I hold freedom of religion (belief) and freedom of speech of the utmost importance, possibly only second (or equal) to freedom=20 of choice, which may be the most important right of all. I also hold that it is the violation of these rights that causes harm. The reading or hearing words or ideas does not cause harm; to the contrary, knowledge increases choices and thus freedom. (Lest I create an incorrect impression, I do not and am not suggesting the violation of copyrights. (don't touch that dial, this is not a paid commercial) Nor do I agree with false copyright registrations but these, I think, are best handled within the law and by the legal process. As for "religious trade secrets" I=20 believe that idea is fatally flawed as it intrinsically violates or can be used to violate the rights of other individuals to the beliefs and religious practices of their choice. I will hold to my rejection of the "religious trade secret" notion regardless of how many IP experts dance on the sharp end of a pin.) * the words, terms noted above are purportedly trademarked by the RTC (Religious Technology Center), though for all I know those registrations may or may not be valid. [...] > > Executed on this 1st day of May, 1987, at Palo Alto, California > > DAVID MAYO > >--=20 >************************************* >Steve Whitlatch swhitlat@prism.nmt.edu >http://www.nmt.edu/~swhitlat/ >************************************* > David -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: 2.6.2 iQCVAwUBMQWCiumCyCdNXuVZAQGvhgP9EqqhBMAJjONR4AWIGpP0F3cdYMoJvz19 eSIqmJuqbKfA8piqpS5HNq0ICA/6AHRvvkRKIvcYPZCZQleBn0J7nF9gU/2l9zkb 8TGZdmMsnwu4upf4jZI1ZATHOLqJ4eEoPp46udTorfjOnV9jrib//ncwuxXdrQ0D pBA8tSgda54=3D =3Dlorw -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----