04/10/98 - 1736

ISKCON Tries to Shut Down "Book Changes Web Page"

USA (VNN) - VNN has received the following report regarding an email from a "Cintamani Web Cartel", a division of the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, Inc. based in Alachua, Florida: (see also VNN story# 1697)

Report by Madhudvisa dasa

After failing to offer an explanaton for any of the changes to Srila Prabhuapda's books on the book changes web page http://www.sudarsana.com and after failing to offer ANY reply whatsoever to our "Open Letter to the BBT" ISKCON is now trying to close down the "Changes to Srila Prabhupada's Books" website...

Is it really too much to ask them why they are changing Srila Prabhupada's books? Is it really unreasonable for us to expect them to reply to such a question... Hare Krishna!

>X-From_: varnadi@iskcon.org Sat Apr 11 08:01:26 1998
>Return-path: <varnadi@iskcon.org>
>Envelope-to: krishna@lis.net.au
>Delivery-date: Sat, 11 Apr 1998 08:01:26 +1000
>Date: Fri, 10 Apr 1998 17:59:57 -0400
>From: Varnadi das <varnadi@iskcon.org>
>Organization: The Complete Picture
>To: jkrishna@geocities.com
>Subject: Copyright violations
>X-MIME-Autoconverted: from 8bit to quoted-printable by geocities.com id
PAA23767
>
>Cintamani Web Cartel
>A division of the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, Inc.
>
>Copyright and legal matters department
>
>
>April 10, 1998
>
>Dear Sirs,
>
>Your Website, Changes in the Bhagavad-gita, has recently come
>to our notice. On it material has been used of which the copyright
>belongs to the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International. It concerns the
>following address:
>
> <a
href="http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Forum/8403/bgcs.html">http://www.geoci
ties.com/Athens/Forum/8403/bgcs.html</a>
> <a
href="http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Forum/8403/pqpac.html">http://www.geoc
ities.com/Athens/Forum/8403/pqpac.html</a>
>
>According to our records you did not have our prior permission to
>utilize BBT material.
>
>In order to help us solve this problem, please provide us with the
>following as soon as possible:
>
> · A confirmation of whether or not you had prior permission from us.
> · Any relevant documents showing that you had our permission.
> · The name and title of the person in your organization with whom we
> may discuss this.
> · Any further information you feel would be helpful in resolving this
> matter.
>
>We would also like to request you to desist providing links to sites
>that offer the 1972 version of the Bhagavad-gita As It Is for review
>and/or download, as all these sites violate Bhaktivedanta Book Trust
>copyrights. By providing such links and Bhaktivedanta Book Trust
>material you are also violating point seven of the GeoCities homepage
>guidelines.
>
>Thank you for your kind cooperation.
>
>Sincerely,
>
>Varnadi das
>Legal assistant
>Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International
>Cintamani Web Cartel
>P.O. Box 13657
>Gainesville FL 32604
>U.S.A.
>Tel/Fax: +1 (904) 418-0750
>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Email: balarama@webcom.com web: http://www.sudarsana.com
Bhagavad-gita: http://www.AsItIs.com
What Happened to the Hare Krishnas: http://www.sudarsana.com/ISKCON/WHTTHK
Changes to Srila Prabhupada's books: http://www.sudarsana.com/ISKCON/BookChanges