Copyright Troubles Resurrected by Tax Case Appeal Decision
Interestingly, the March 31, 2008,
property tax case decision
cites Mollie Steenson as testifying that 3ABN's "videos are not
copyrighted and copying is encouraged." This agrees with
Mike Riva's brief in the tax case
that stated that "none of the programming Three Angels creates is copyrighted."
Yet anyone who does a search at the
U.S. Copyright Office's website
will discover that on February 8, 2007, 3ABN registered one of its programs with the U.S. Copyright Office.
Thus, during their pending property tax case appeal, they contradicted one of their own arguments being used
in that case. While arguing that none of their programs were copyrighted, they registered one of their programs
for copyright.
Go to the U.S. Copyright Office's
search page, type in "Three Angels," select "Name" from the drop-down menu, and click the "Begin Search" button.
Only two entries come up. A similar search for the "Name" of "3ABN" will turn up two more entries.
Of these four entries, three are for textual matter, such as a book or pamphlet. The second result for
"Three Angels" is the only broadcast 3ABN has ever registered in the entire history of its existence.
That entry? Here it is:
|
3ABN today live : New Year's Eve special.
| Type of Work: | Motion Picture |
| Registration Number / Date: | PA0001366250 / 2007-02-08 |
| Title: | 3ABN today live : New Year's Eve special. |
| Description: | 5 videodiscs (DVD) |
| Copyright Claimant: | Three Angels Broadcasting Network, Inc. |
| Date of Creation: | 2006 |
| Date of Publication: | 2006-12-31 |
| Other Title: | New Year's Eve special |
| Names: | Three Angels Broadcasting Network, Inc. |
|
So why would 3ABN contradict its own pleadings and testimony during a pending case by registering
this one lone broadcast, the December 31, 2006, New Years' Eve special, with the U.S. Copyright
Office? Notice the date it was registered: February 8, 2007. Now note the following:
- The December 31, 2006, New Years' Eve special contained the infamous tribute to alleged pedophile Tommy Shelton, who just weeks before had had new allegations raised against him in Virginia.
- In the face of Danny Shelton's brazen response to such serious allegations, Save3ABN.com was launched, and it soon posted an excerpt of that New Years' Eve special in the interest of critique and criticism.
- Even before the launch of Save3ABN.com, Danny Shelton and crew had begun to threaten to sue.
- On January 30, 2007, Attorney Gerald Duffy, who had served recently added 3ABN board member Garwin McNeilus extensively in various legal matters, sent a nasty cease and desist letter to Gailon Arthur Joy.
- This letter demanded that Save3ABN.com cease reporting on Danny Shelton's handling of the child molestation allegations against Tommy Shelton.
- The letter also complained about Save3ABN.com's use of the "copyrighted" tribute to Tommy.
- On February 8, 2007, that very broadcast was registered with the U.S. Copyright Office.
It's a simple fact that registration of copyright provides a few advantages if you intend to sue someone over
copyright infringement. Thus, it is hardly speculative to conclude that the reason why 3ABN has only registered
one broadcast in its entire history, and why that one broadcast contains a tribute to an alleged pedophile,
and why 3ABN registered that one broadcast in contradiction of the very arguments it had used in a
pending court case, is because 3ABN was planning to retaliate against those two whistle blowers,
Joy and Pickle, who had dared to disclose that Danny Shelton had covered up allegations
of pedophilia.
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