LOS ANGELES – The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International announced yesterday that devotees wishing to cite scriptural references during classes, campus lectures and even home programs will have to begin paying usage fees.
“What this amounts to is thievery,” says BBT International legal spokesperson Clarence Richards “Do these people really believe it is right to quote copyrighted scripture during these lectures without the express written permission of the BBT International? It’s stealing.”
BBT International charges that illegal citations of Srila Prabhupada’s books are costing Srila Prabhupada’s movement. Richards continues, “44% of BBT International’s revenue loss has been due to illegal citation.”
Earlier this year, the BBT International claimed a “phenomenal increase” in book sales. They now admit that the increase was due to accidentally counting Srila Prabhupada books printed in India by non-BBT International book trusts.
“Originally we believed reports that claimed sales were up,” said long time book distributor Pitha das. “But then I remembered that I haven’t distributed a book since the 2001 Rainbow Gathering and figured that their math must be a bit fuzzy.”
The usage rates that BBT International is slated to charge are very simple. The basic rate of $.36 per word will apply. Long hyphonated sanskrit words do not count as one long word, rather as several shorter words.
There are provisions for high-volume users such as gurus or professional lecturers. These devotees may buy rights in bulk, depending on their speaking schedule.
While similar “kickbacks” are seen as greedy in the karmi world, the BBT’s kickbacks are generally seen as Srila Prabhupada’s desire. “ISKCON is Srila Prabhupada’s body,” said BBT’s GBC represenative, Vani-kauta das. “Whatever ISKCON does must be Srila Prabhupada’s desire.”
Former sastra-sharer, Durmadha das agreed, “I used to recite verse after verse in Bhagavatam class. I now see how this stealing is wrong. From now on, all I will do is tell funny stories.”
For independent speakers, a 20 word limit per class will be imposed. Anyone violating the 20 word limit will be subject to hefty fines and possible arrest.
“While we believe it is nice that so many devotees want to quote nice scripture, we have a few guidelines we are asking them to follow,” said BBT International’s public relations spokesperson Anrita devi dasi, adding “We also request that, if possible, these be short words and that copyright notices are somehow displayed when verses are quoted.”
Though the vast majority of devotees support BBT International in this decision, there are a few fringe groups of devotee who claim to be in opposition.
“The quoting of scipture falls under ‘fair use,’” says rogue shastra sharer Caura das. “We’re not reprinting the books or making money off of it, we just want to quote Srila Prabhupada and the Vedas.”
But that is where the shastra sharers are mistaken, asserts Richards. “For it to fall under fair use, the quote must be attributed to the original artist. Many of these criminals do not even say ‘uvaca’ before quoting.”
He added, “Besides, the botched sanskrit significantly impairs market value of BBT International’s books, further drawing it away from the ‘fair use’ category.”
To prove to the devotee community that they are serious, BBT International has sued Mugdha das brahmacari $108,000 for running a Bhagavad-gita study group out of his ashrama room since 2004.
“We wanted to take out the most hardened criminals first and Mugdha prabhu was one of the worst,” said Anrita devi dasi. “His actual fines were in the millions of dollars, but we are offering a manageable, auspicious number as settlement.”
BBT International is preparing criminal lawsuits against thousands of devotees. And though their actions may fully bankrupt Srila Prabhupada’s movement, the changes will more than likely go unnoticed by most devotees.
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13 responses so far ↓
1 jaganat // Jul 4, 2008 at 10:10 am
Do you know if the measure will be implemented in Europe and how much in euros will be?
Harinam speeches, will be charged with the same rules?
At last, someone gives some real value to Srila Prabhupada´s words, jaya!!!
2 Rati // Jul 4, 2008 at 2:11 pm
Oh, no! Does this mean that now no one will have to (or be able to) back up what they say with Prabhupada’s words?
Could this become yet another “for legal reasons” situation?
“Well, prabhu, for legal reasons we can’t discuss where Prahupada said this is what we should do.”
3 Nandini // Jul 4, 2008 at 3:34 pm
“Caura ” das? Sounds familiar.
Rati,
You hit on a nerve there. Actually, quoting Prabhupada is not the same as quoting shastra. BBT may need to create yet another policy to deal with quoting Prabhupada. And probably yet a third one for quoting Prabhuapada OUT OF CONTEXT. And so on and so forth.
I like the closing of the article “And though their actions may fully bankrupt Srila Prabhupada’s movement, the changes will more than likely go unnoticed by most devotees.”
Its already happening, actually.
Very apt of Eric to point it out.
4 Devak // Jul 4, 2008 at 6:23 pm
INDIA
July 4, 2008
Dearst Devotees:
This is a wonderful thing that the Book Trust is doing the protect the sacred words that came from the lotus mouth of Prabhupada.
Today I’m am send immediate a large cheque to Watsetka Ave. Los Angeles Temple, USA. This should help them with their new attorney fees for these lawsuits against the rascals that go around and quote ACB without so much as a ‘Thank you’. Can you imagine the hell they will reside in for such offences?
Devak…..when I quote the Gita I always say a “big thank you ACB”. I’m sure that will stand up in any court of law if they sue me.
5 Ryan // Jul 4, 2008 at 7:26 pm
Is this a joke!!!!????
6 Devak // Jul 5, 2008 at 3:37 am
INDIA
Jul 5-08
Dearest Nandini and Rati:
Actually there are 108 different ways you can offend the BBT. The most horrible way to offend is to place a Gita page face down on the glass plate of a Xerox machine and press COPY.
That one finger can send the devotee into a condition of maya and aparada that no one ever may rescue their stained soul from.
Also, ‘Ryan’ young man, this is all very serious. I say it is and that makes it so.
When I was guru, I learned many useless things for this lifetime. but I have forgot a lot in the past few days.
Devak…..
7 Swami Iconoclast // Jul 5, 2008 at 8:30 am
Stop mocking Prabhupada’s legacy. All this so-called “humor” is simply the articulations of demons and rascals. Simply accept the infallible and scientific teachings of Prabhupada, the jagad-guru, if you know what’s good for you!
8 Kenny // Jul 5, 2008 at 4:52 pm
Swami – is there another joke you could use? This one is getting boring.
Ryan – no, this is serious. Pay up.
9 Swami Iconoclast // Jul 6, 2008 at 7:02 am
Kenny, you are the joke. Stop mocking Swami.
10 RONALD // Jul 14, 2008 at 8:27 am
what a very sad example of greed! im sorry but its not illegal to read a book out loud. i hope nobody is sued for quoting the previous acharyas. lawsuits would be in thge millions. our philosophy is based on quoting. i am sure the attorney generals office would say that this is illegal on the bbt s part. i will find out. i feel very saddened that these demonic tendencies now rule iskcon. surely there is a hell for those who think they ‘OWN’ THEIR GURU!
11 RONALD // Jul 14, 2008 at 8:37 am
just like ALL bogus iskcon fundraising ,,this is nothing more than greed and the I ,ME AND MINE SYNDROME. all of this ‘THEIVary’ must be reported on a very large scale. the attorney generals office in every state must investigate iskcon and its theiveing practices. sadly ISKCON HAS FORGOTTEN WHO THIS MOVEMENT BELONGS TO! what a disgrace to the only bona fide devotee in iskcon, srila prabhupada. as has happened many times througout history ,our movement has been taken over by greedy, materialists. ALL DEVOTEES MUST GET JOBS AND STOP BANKING OFF OF PRABHPADAS NAME ,AND STEALING KRISHNAS MONEY! FUNNY THAT THE BBT ARE CALLING PEOPLE THEIVES. DEVOTEES MUST WORK AND MAKE THEIR OWN MONEY.THESE RASCHALS ARE DIGGING THEIR OWN GRAVES. IN 5 YEARS THERE WILL BE NO ISKCON. KRISHNA WILL /AND IS SHUTTING ISKCON DOWN. THIS IS NOTHING MORE THAN BETRAYAL OF OUR JAGAD GURU. AS MANY OTHER ISKCON MOVES ARE. SOON YOU WILL SEE WHO MAKES THE RULES! ITS NOT THE BBT,OR ISKCON! HARE KRISHNA!
12 RONALD // Jul 14, 2008 at 8:44 am
i recall devotees being called DEMONS when they sued gurus or other devotees in the past. if you sue devotees ,,this is pure evil..krishna will dissolve iskcon,,pay attention,,hes already started! the REAL devotees are about to get their wish,,,,an iskcon dissipation. funny how iskcon is readily assisting the LORD in their own demise. we are all just waiting for the final peice to crumble so we can have the spiritual life that srila prabhupada intended for us to have. hang on it will be bliss. KRISHNA is eliminating all bogus hethens from iskcon and HE is using them to set up their own downfall and loss of the society. be pateient ,,the LORD will dissolve the bbt,,,again ,look closely ,,HE has already started!
13 Sita // Jul 19, 2008 at 1:33 am
Ronald, this is actually a joke. the bbt has no intentions of charging royalties for quotes. you can calm down now.