Verbal Tech: Penalties

HCO Bulletin 15 February 1979, Reissued 12 April 1983, is titled Verbal Tech: Penalties. The bulletin is item 24 in the Keeping Scientology Working series, and appears in the 1983 version of the Hubbard Professional TRs Course booklet and many other Scientology volumes. It is very short: just 3 pragraphs, totalling 76 words. A verbatim copy was formerly presented here under the ``fair use'' provision of the US Copyright Code,, but after Scientology attorney Helena K. Kobrin complained, I replaced it with the following summary:

The first paragraph simply says that anyone found to be using ``verbal tech'' will be brought before a court of ethics.
The second paragraph gives the actual definition of verbal tech. It lists the following activities:
1. ``giving out data'' that doesn't agree with official policy as stated in HCOBs (Hubbard Communications Office Bulletins) and HCOPLs (Hubbard Communications Offfice Policy Letters)
2. obstructing the use or application of HCOBs and HCOPLs
3. ``corrupting their intent''
4. ``altering their content in any way'' (fixing typos? correcting fracured grammar?)
5. ``interpreting them verbally for another [person]'',
6. or pretending to quote from a bulletin or policy letter without showing the actual text.
Item #5 makes it a crime to interpret Hubbard's writings for another person. That's the real meaning of ``verbal tech''. The critical point here is that it's been cleverly slipped in among a set of much more clearly objectionable acts, so that the reader is not given a chance to notice what's really going on.
The third paragraph says that any of the above actions will be punished. That's it.

What's the real motive behind this HCOB? By preventing people from discussing their interpretations of his policies, Hubbard has effectively squelched all internal debate on the way his organization is run. If one disagrees with a policy, public discussion and analysis are not an option. The only acceptable action is to ``go back and find your misunderstood word'' (a Scientology catch-phrase), repeating as often as necessary until the disagreement has been suppressed.

Note that according to Hubbard's policy, this very web page is an instance of ``verbal tech'', since I am interpreting the bulletin, and quoting from it without showing the actual text. Well, I tried to show the text, but a Scientology lawyer complained about it. Twice!

Date: Thu, 25 Sep 1997 10:22:07 -0700 (PDT)
From: Helena Kobrin <hkk@netcom.com>
Subject: Unauthorized Use of Copyrighted Materials
To: dst@cs.cmu.edu
Message-ID: <Pine.3.89.9709251057.A28927-0100000@netcom18>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII
Status: U


Dear Mr. Touretzky:

     You have placed on your web page on Carnegie Mellon University's web site,
copyrighted material to which my client, Bridge Publications Inc, holds the exclusive rights. 
You have done so without the authorization of my client.

     Specifically, you have placed the entirety of the work entitled "Verbal Tech: Penalties"
at the following URL:

          http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Secrets/verbal-tech.html

     This work is registered with the United States Copyright Office under registration
number TX 1-084-783.

     Likewise, you have placed over 50% of the work entitled "Handling the Public
Individual" at the following URL:

          http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Secrets/TR/hcopl-16apr65ra.txt

     This work is registered with the United States Copyright Office under Registration
Number TX 2 238-614.

     Your placement of these works on your web page violates United States copyright law
and therefore constitute copyright infringement for which both you and CMU can be held
liable.  Your verbatim reproduction of these works does not constitute fair use.  I am sure you
are aware that we have obtained a summary judgment in San Jose, California on behalf of my
client, Religious Technology Center, for the posting of a single work.

     I therefore demand that you remove these works from your web page.

                                   Sincerely,
                                   Helena Kobrin


cc: Walter DeForest, Esq.
        (Via Telefax 412-227-3130)

Date: Wed, 1 Oct 1997 13:19:59 -0700 (PDT)
From: Helena Kobrin <hkk@netcom.com>
Subject: Unauthorized Use of Copyrighted Materials
To: dst@cs.cmu.edu
Message-ID: <Pine.3.89.9710011315.A14875-0100000@netcom4>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII
Status: U



Dear Mr. Touretzky:

     I have been informed that you still continue to place my client, Bridge Publication,
Inc.'s copyrighted works known as HCOB 15 February 1979 VERBAL TECH PENALTIES
and HCO PL 16 April AD15 ALL DIVISIONS HANDLING THE PUBLIC INDIVIDUAL on
your web page through Carnegie Mellon University's computer system.

     These have been placed on your web page at the following URLs:

          http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Secrets/verbal-tech.html
          http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Secrets/TR/hcopl-16apr65ra.txt

     While you might have changed the typing format of the work, VERBAL TECH
PENALTIES, you have still placed it verbatim on your page.  While you may have deleted out
portions of the work, HANDLING THE PUBLIC INDIVIDUAL, again you have placed it
verbatim on your page.  As such, your actions in this regard violate United States copyright
law and therefore constitute copyright infringements for which both you and CMU can be held
liable. We therefore demand that you remove these materials from your web page.  Please
confirm that you have done so.

                                   Sincerely,
                                   Helena Kobrin