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By Kent Larsen
Tanner Copyright Lawsuit Officially Settled
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH -- The lawyer for LDS Church critics Jerald and Sandra
Tanner confirmed Wednesday that the Church has signed a settlement agreement
and that the agreement was accepted by US District Judge Tena Campbell last
Friday. The lawsuit targeted the Tanners because their Utah Lighthouse
Ministry's website posted pages from the Church's General Handbook of
Instructions in violation of the copyright law. In what became a very
controversial move, the Church also challenged the website's subsequent
posting of links to other sites that contained the material.
"After extended discussions, a settlement has been reached in the copyright
dispute with Utah Lighthouse Ministry. The agreement includes a permanent
injunction against ULM that prohibits unauthorized use of copyrighted
materials produced by the church," LDS Church spokesman Dale Bills said. The
Tanners announced that they had signed the agreement on November 30th, but
the Church delayed signing until last Friday.
The settlement agreement requires the Tanners to destroy all copies of the
handbook in their possession and to remove from their website any mention of
Internet sites carrying the handbook. In exchange, the Church has dropped
all claims for damages and attorneys fees.
But Jerald Tanner maintains that the couple did not violate the copyright
law and settled only to "end unnecessary, prolonged and expensive litigation."
Sources:
Church Settles Copyright Suit
Salt Lake Tribune 14Dec00 N1
By Ray Rivera
Utah Lighthouse Ministry, LDS Church settle dispute
Deseret News 14Dec00 N1
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