Urantian News Fall 1997
Urantian News, Fall 1997, Volume 16, Issue 2
Urantian News is published semi-annually by Urantia Foundation
© 1997 - 2000. All Rights Reserved
Foundation Wins Copyright Appeal
Translations and Bringing Translators Together
International IUA Conference Helsinki, Finland, August 1998
Foundation Increases Attendance at Trade Shows and Book Fairs
Channeling and The Urantia Book? The South American Question
Former Trustee, Kenton E. Stephens, Sr. 1928-1997
Helen Carlson and Marian Rowley
FOUNDATION WINS COPYRIGHT APPEAL
On June 10, 1997, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled that URANTIA Foundation's renewal copyright in The Urantia Book is valid and will remain in force until 2030. This ruling reverses the judgment of the United States District Court for the District of Arizona which had ruled on February 15, 1995, that URANTIA Foundation's 1983 renewal of the copyright was invalid. The appellate court found the ruling of the lower court to be flawed on several points of law; it declared that the copyright had been infringed; and it directed that the case be "remanded [to the district court from whence it came] for further proceedings on damages."
Kristen Maaherra, the Foundation's opponent in the case, made a request to the Appellate Court that the case be reheard by Judge Urbom in the US District Court of Arizona. The request was denied. She has until November 11 to appeal the June 10 ruling.
While this decision strengthens the Foundation's ownership of the copyright, the Trustees desire to avoid litigation whenever possible. We pray that readers will work together in their efforts to disseminate the teachings of the fifth epochal revelation to all the people of the world.
Judge Schroeder, one of the three appellate judges, made the following 15 points in her Summary of the Opinion:
[1] The copyright laws do not expressly require "human" authorship. It is not the creations of divine beings that the copyright laws were intended to protect. In this case, some element of human creativity must have occurred for the Book to be copyrightable.
[2] The Book was copyrightable if copyrightability was claimed by the first human being who compiled, selected, coordinated, and arranged the Urantia teachings in a way that the resulting work as a whole constituted an original work of authorship. Those who were responsible for the creation of the tangible literary form that could be read by others could have claimed copyright as authors because they were responsible for the revelations appearing in a way that rendered the work original as a whole.
[3] The Contact Commission may have received guidance from celestial beings when it formulated the questions asked. The questions contributed materially to the structure of the Papers, to the arrangement of the revelations in each Paper, and to the organization and order in which the Papers followed one another. The human selection and arrangement of the revelations could not have been so mechanical or routine as to require no creativity whatsoever. The extremely low threshold level of creativity required for copyright protection was met.
[4] The claim of infringement concerned the verbatim copying of the entire Book, including the selection and arrangement of the revelations into the Papers that comprised the Book. This case did not concern the use of a single "revelation" outside the context of the Book, which would have been analogous to a "fact," and would not have been copyrightable.
[5] The Papers were works amenable to common-law copyright protection.
[6] Under the 1909 Copyright Act, an unpublished work was protected from the moment it was created until it was published with notice or otherwise received protection under federal copyright law. The Papers were therefore protected from the moment they were created by the members of the Contact Commission until publication of the Book. The question was whether those humans transferred the copyright to the Foundation.
[7] The members of the Contact Commission demonstrated their intent to transfer the common-law copyright in the papers through the language of the trust instrument and delivery of the printing plates to the Foundation. Under the 1909 Act, a common-law copyright could be assigned without observing formalities. Mere possession of the printing plates may have been sufficient to establish an assignment as against a third party, particularly when interested parties had acquiesced in the putative assignee's ownership. Because the intent to transfer ownership was clear and the plates were delivered to the Foundation, the members of the Contact Commission transferred their copyright in the Papers to the Foundation. When the Foundation published the Book, the original statutory copyright automatically vested.
[8] Maaherra was probably correct that the Book was not a "work made for hire." An employment or commissioning relationship at the time the work is created is a condition for claiming renewal as the proprietor of a "work made for hire."
[9] The general term "proprietor" was probably sufficient to identify the legal basis of the renewal claim in 1983.
[10] No case has held a renewal invalid for lack of an adequate description of the basis of the claim.
[11] The requirement of accurate identification of the renewal claimant has not been rigidly enforced.
[12] Even if the Foundation could no longer correct the "work made for hire" description of its proprietorship claim on the renewal form, the renewal copyright was not invalid.
[13] Inadvertent mistakes on registration certificates do not invalidate a copyright unless the alleged infringer has relied to its detriment on the mistake, or the claimant intended to defraud the Copyright Office.
[14] The Foundation deposited two copies of the Book with the Copyright Office. The Book clearly described its origin. There was no fraud on the Foundation's part and no prejudicial reliance by Maaherra.
[15] The renewal copyright was valid and Maaherra infringed it.
The summary, © 1997 by Barclays Law Publishers, is reprinted with permission.
New Trustee
We are pleased to announce that Kwan Choi, a professor of economics at Iowa State University, was appointed Trustee of URANTIA Foundation in March 1997. Kwan replaces Philip Rolnick who resigned from the Board last year. Kwan and his wife Kathy moved from Korea to the United States in 1972. They have three boys, aged 13, 18, and 20, two of whom are readers. Kwan and Kathy have been students of The URANTIA Book for over 20 years. Kwan is the editor of two economic journals. Kwan says, "I try to practice the teachings of The URANTIA Book in my profession. When selecting articles for publication, I, with the help of colleagues, try to eliminate all kinds of bias and discrimination."
In these times of internationalization of the Urantia movement, Kwan, as an Asian and an economist, adds another element of diversity to the Board.
Translations and Bringing Traslators Together
URANTIA Foundation continues its commitment to ensuring that The URANTIA Book is translated into all the major languages of the world, and that distribution channels for all translations in the appropriate countries are found.
An active program for identifying prospective translators continues. In addition, translations often appear spontaneously from an individual who has been working on his or her translation for years. It is the Foundation's intent to encourage and support as much as possible the many translation efforts.
Published translations: French, Finnish, Spanish and Russian.
Translations soon to be published: Dutch, Korean, and Swedish.
Translations in progress: German, Estonian, Italian, Portuguese, Arabic, and Lithuanian.
Translations in preliminary stages: Chinese, Hindi.
The Second Translators Conference will be held in Paris October 29 to November 2. Current and prospective translators from all over the world will come together to share experiences, discuss the difficulties associated with translating such a complex text as The URANTIA Book, and plan future translation projects.
URANTIA Foundation has established an Internet discussion group for translators of The URANTIA Book. This allows translators to share thoughts and experiences and generally to "talk shop" on a daily basis.
Also, a dictionary of difficult terms and concepts is being created to assist translators and to maintain a consistency between translations.
International IUA Conference -
Helsinki, Finland, August 1998
The members of the Finnish URANTIA Association cordially invite you to attend the first International IUA Conference to take place in Europe and outside the United States. Attendees will meet fellow readers from many countries and several continents in a setting of natural beauty and splendour of the North. When Finns wish to make you feel welcome, they say "Tervetuloa". And we say to you now, "Tervetuloa."
Dates: 7 - 10 August 1998
Venue: UNITAS Congress Centre, on the waterfront of Helsinki, Finland
Registration: IUA, 533 Diversey Parkway, Chicago IL 60614, USA; or Finnish URANTIA Association Secretary, Runeberginkatu 54a A 5, 00260 Helsinki, FINLAND
Participation fee is still to be determined, but the charge will be approximately FM 1,800 (at the August 1997 exchange rate roughly US$350). The charge covers accommodations, three meals a day, transportation from and to the airport, and conference program.
Theme: Facts, Meanings, and Values
Program Highlights: Rewarding fraternisation, internationalism, lectures, discourses, study groups, worship, drama performance, quiz game, sauna, boating, Finnish food, and much more.
Five New Associations of IUA
1997 has seen the formation of five new associations of IUA - three in Canada, one in Colombia, and one in Peru. The associations in Colombia and Peru are the first to form in South America.
CANADA
Northern Light URANTIA Association of CanadaOn Sunday, January 26th, 1997, Cathy Jones, Chair of the Coordinating Committee, and Trustee Pat Mundelius welcomed members of the first local Association of IUA in Canada and spoke about the goals of the Foundation and IUA. The Licensing Agreement was signed and the following officers were appointed: Brian King, President; Ken McMullen, Vice President; Lynn King, Secretary; and Ernie Vegh, Treasurer.
The licensing ceremony was a joyful start to this new Association, and we look forward to a long relationship of service with the Northern Light.
URANTIA Association of the Cascades
On Sunday, June 1st , 1997, the second Canadian local Association, the URANTIA Association of the Cascades, was licensed. Pat Mundelius and Cathy Jones assisted. It was a wonderful weekend spent at "Bowen Lodge by the Sea," West Vancouver. Warm friendships were established and the following officers were appointed: Nathen Jansen, President; Ronald Louie, Vice President; Kasandra Jansen, Secretary; and Ferne Louie, Treasurer.
Association URANTIA du Québec
The air was filled with excitement in Montreal on July 20th at the home of Louis Laporte, as a group of dedicated readers of Le Livre d'URANTIA gathered to license the third local Association of IUA in Canada, Association URANTIA du QuJbec. Sixty-six applications were received, with 33 Charter Members present. Cathy Jones and Trustee Georges Michelson-Dupont also attended.
This was the first time that many of these readers had met one another. There is so much interest that plans are already underway to divide into three separate associations. A business meeting followed the licensing and the following officers were elected: Louis Laporte, President; Ronald Grondin, Vice President; Carmen Desrosiers, Secretary; and Lise & Pierre Routhier, Treasurer.
COLOMBIA
URANTIA Association of Colombia
Colombian readers, with the help of organizers Dale Hall and Ram\n OrtRz, both 20 year readers of The URANTIA Book and Colombia's longest and staunchest Foundation supporters, inaugurated a new IUA Association on Sunday, May 4, 1997. The Foundation's Executive Director, Tonia Baney, who was in Colombia attending our first Colombian Book Fair, assisted in the inauguration. It is the first South American IUA Association and promises to be a beacon of light for URANTIA related activities for all of South America. Office bearers for the new association are: Ram\n Jacobo OrtRz, President; Hermman NoreZa, Vice President; Uriela Pelaez, Secretary; and Jose Leonidas Bonilla, Treasurer.
PERU
Andes URANTIA Association
On August 17, 1997, Trustees Richard Keeler and Georges Michelson-Dupont, George's wife Marlene, and staff member Bob Solone arrived in Arequipa, Peru. They were met at the airport by three carloads of enthusiastic readers. During the next 24 hours, the Peruvians revealed their desires, plans, and preparations to create an IUA Association.
On August 18, the Andes URANTIA Association was chartered, the Licensing Agreement was signed, and 32 readers became new members of IUA. The following officers were appointed: Alfonso Luque, President; Regis Llerena, Vice President; Miriam Bustamente Bedoya, Secretary; and Maria Meza Urquizo, Treasurer.
In addition, committees were formed with the following committee chairpersons: Alejandro Ranilla Collado, Conference Committee; Olga Luque Vasquez, Membership Committee; Beatriz Arispe Valderrama, Education Committee; and Juan Mayta Coaguila, Publications Committee.
Foundation Increases Attendance at Trade Shows and Book Fairs
1997 has been a year for book fairs as the Foundation increases its contacts in the book trade worldwide. The Foundation's display booths are attractive, appealing, and professional. In addition, they are lightweight and portable, making it easy to ship them, as we do, to book fairs all over the world.
LONDON. Chris and Tina Moseley, who run the Foundation's office in Britain, set up and manned a Foundation display booth at the International London Bookfair in March and made contacts with many booksellers.
BOGOTA. Tonia Baney and Bob Solone from the Foundation staff in Chicago, and Rosendo and Maria de Aguilera from the Greater New York URANTIA Association attended the 10th International Book Fair of Colombia, South America. This was the first time the Foundation displayed a booth in Colombia. The trip was a phenomenal success.
Over 1,000 books were sold at the fair. New distributors were acquired, and long-standing relationships with booksellers and distributors in Central and South America were solidified.
The Foundation's booth was crowded with visitors during the entire fair. Thanks to the many Colombian readers volunteering their time at the booth, we were able efficiently to serve and answer the questions of visitors. Hundreds of names were added to the Foundation's mailing list.
CHICAGO. The annual book industry gathering, BookExpo America, formerly known as the American Booksellers Association Convention and Trade Exhibit, was held in Chicago's McCormick Place Convention Center. Over 1500 exhibitors, representing publishers of every size and specialty, attended this book fair.
With copies of the book and information packets in hand, the Foundation staff and several dedicated volunteers made many valuable contacts with distributors, booksellers and international trade and publishing organizations.
LIBRARY BOOK FAIR - San Francisco. In June, the American Library Association held a conference / book fair in San Francisco. This was the first time the Foundation attended an American Library Association Conference. Our thanks to the volunteers who manned the booth.
We offered free books to libraries. All together 161 URANTIA Books and 124 Concordances were requested. While the majority of requesting libraries were from North America, contacts were also made from other nations including the University of the Philippines, the University of Singapore, the University of Santiago in Chile, the University of Guam, and the Republic of China.
AUSTRALIA: The Australian Book Fair was held on August 2 to 4 at Darling Harbor situated in the heart of Sydney. Unlike previous years, when the book fair was open to the public, this year's event was held exclusively for the book trade.
Many people in the trade stopped to visit and took brochures about the book. Representatives from two different electronic bookstores visited the booth. The URANTIA Book is now available from mainstream electronic bookstores on the Internet. Again, we thank the volunteers who helped us at the booth.
The Foundation also had display booths this year at book fairs in Madrid, Frankfurt, Moscow, and Miami. We are always interested in any help with the manning of booths for book fairs - especially in the non-English speaking countries. If you are interested in assisting with book fairs and speak other languages, please contact Steve Baney or Trevor Swadling at the Foundation office in Chicago.
Channeling and The Urantia Book?
The South American Question
In past issues of URANTIAN News, the Foundation has made disclaimer statements on the phenomenon known as "channeling" (See URANTIAN News, November 1993). The Foundation continues to receive occasional inquiries from concerned readers who want to know if there is any connection between the Foundation and claims of "channeling" and related material that includes concepts, names of personalities, and other identifiable information from The URANTIA Book.
Until recently, most inquiries from readers have been about several "channeling" groups in the USA, such as "The Teaching Mission" and "Gabriel of Sedona," both of which claim to have "channeled" a continuation of the Fifth Epochal Revelation.
However, on a recent trip to South America, Trustees and staff visited study groups in ten cities in seven countries, and many readers in several countries asked if the Foundation was connected with a group called "Hermandad YO SOY" (the I AM Brotherhood). This group is based on "channeled" writings that are influencing groups of URANTIA Book readers throughout Central and South America. Some of the written material is entitled Annex of the Fifth Epochal Revelation and contains terms like Grandfanda, Morontia, Hanavard, Lanaforge, etc., words that are unique to The URANTIA Book.
After reviewing these writings, we can see that it would be easy for new readers to be confused. Because these writings incorporate so many names from The URANTIA Book, many new readers believe it is the continuation of the teachings of The URANTIA Book.
Also in these writings, phrases familiar to URANTIA Book readers, such as "Order of Melchizedek," "Global Government of Humanity," "Truth, Goodness, and Beauty," etc., are mixed with new-age, astrology, reincarnation, and occult or esoteric terminology. Essentially, the authors use phrases, terms, and names from The URANTIA Book for credibility and to reinforce their authority on their believers.
These writings are easier to read but very different from The URANTIA Book and its teachings. If it is misconstrued that they are officially connected in some way with The URANTIA Book or the Foundation, there is a danger of dilution and confusion of the Fifth Epochal Revelation.
While URANTIA Foundation neither endorses, promotes, nor denies any individual's personal experiences, we must assure readers that the Foundation has no connection with any of this so-called "channeled" material about which each individual will have to make up his or her own mind. Even so, the Trustees want to make the Foundation's position very clear: URANTIA Foundation disavows such material as having anything to do with The URANTIA Book or URANTIA Foundation.
Copyright Review Committee
Since the validity of its copyright of The URANTIA Book has been confirmed, the URANTIA Foundation has had an increased volume of requests for copyright permission to use material from The URANTIA Book. In order effectively and efficiently to review these requests, the Trustees have established a Copyright Review Committee.
The members of this Committee are long-time readers of The URANTIA Book. Two of them, without knowing the identity of the other evaluator, will review a given work and make recommendations to the Trustees. Our main concern is that the use of material from The URANTIA Book does not misrepresent the teachings of the book.
Former Trustee, Kenton E. Stephens, Sr.
1928 - 1997
Dr. Kenton E. Stephens, Sr. of Billerica, Massachusetts "graduated" on August 25, 1997. Kenton and his parents, Grace Kulieke Stephens and Edgar T. (Steve) Stephens, were long-time readers of The URANTIA Book.
Kenton was a Trustee of URANTIA Foundation from 1964 to 1975. He believed strongly in the protection of the text of The URANTIA Book, as charged in the Declaration of Trust, and was instrumental in the safeguarding of The URANTIA Book intact for many future generations.
Kenton is survived by his wife Claire, three children, seven grandchildren, and three sisters.
Helen Carlson and Marian Rowley
Helen Carlson "graduated" on January 1, 1997, at the age of 91. In 1935, Helen began her study and association with the URANTIA Papers when she became a member of the "Forum," the group that studied the URANTIA Papers before they were published. Since then, she served in many capacities with the Foundation and the URANTIA Brotherhood.
Marian Rowley "graduated" on July 14, 1997, at the age of 95. Marian was a student of the URANTIA Papers since 1939 when she became a member of the "Forum." For 50 years, Marian served in various capacities including 23 years as a full-time, unpaid worker for the URANTIA Brotherhood. Both Helen and Marian were charter members of First URANTIA Society. They devoted their lives to The URANTIA Book and URANTIA organizations.
Farewell to Helen, Marian, and Kenton and may their service to others continue to enrich the lives of their fellows.
Announcements
- Book cover carrying cases. We now have available for sale beautiful book cover cases in soft, fine-quality Nappa leather, or in soft, good-quality vinyl. The cases are navy blue and come in two sizes especially tailored to fit the large hardcover and small softcover books. All cases are embossed with the words: "THE URANTIA BOOK." An order form accompanies this newsletter.
- The URANTIA Book now available on CD ROM - Multiple Languages. The first edition contains the English, French, and Finnish versions with the powerful Folio Views search engine. Future editions will have many more languages. It is an invaluable tool for study groups and serious, multi-lingual students of the book.
You can also view the Foundation's Web Site direct from the CD ROM without having to go online. This limited edition of the Web Site contains information about URANTIA Foundation and IUA, and includes several study aids. Take advantage of the Christmas discounts.
- Large Print Edition of URANTIAN News. We are considering a large print edition of URANTIAN News for people with visual impairment or difficulties reading small print. If you are interested in receiving such an edition, please contact Sheila Schneider at URANTIA Foundation or e-mail her at sheila@urantia.org.
- Web Site. Our Web Site has been updated and improved. If you have not seen it, you can view it at http://www.urantia.org.
- Coordinating Committee Update. The Coordinating Committee for 1997 includes Catherine Jones (Chair), JoAnne Nelson (Secretary), Neil Francey, Seppo Kanerva, Lee Armstrong, Pat Goodson, Bryan Snowden, Jay Peregrine, Trevor Swadling, Michael Zehr, and Dale Hall.
- Volunteers. In an effort to move forward more efficiently with the many tasks and projects the Foundation is undertaking, we have developed various committees of volunteers who have offered their services. Currently we have volunteer committees for strategic planning, proofreading, copyright permission review, fund raising, building, legal, and translations. We have appointed a volunteer coordinator who will assist the Foundation in the management of the volunteers.
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