The Urantia Foundation is a
Chicago
(''City in a Garden''); I Will
, image_map =
, map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago
, coordinates =
, coordinates_footnotes =
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name ...
-based
non-profit
A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...
organisation, founded in 1950, that provides materials, promotes events, and provides guidance associated with ''
The Urantia Book
''The Urantia Book'' (sometimes called ''The Urantia Papers'' or ''The Fifth Epochal Revelation'') is a Spirituality, spiritual, Philosophy, philosophical, and Religion, religious book that originated in Chicago sometime between 1924 and 1955. Th ...
''.
Purpose
The main purpose of the foundation is to provide for the dissemination of ''The Urantia Book'' and to ensure that the text remains as unaltered as possible. It published the first copy of the book to be made available to the public in 1955. The organization maintains integrity of the text and authorizes specific translations. The Urantia Foundation was inaugurated in order to preserve exclusive domain over the names "The URANTIA BOOK," "Urantia Brotherhood," "Urantia Foundation," and "Urantia Society" for at least one generation.
Copyright and trademarks
In 1995, a United States jury trial in
Arizona
Arizona ( ; nv, Hoozdo Hahoodzo ; ood, Alĭ ṣonak ) is a state in the Southwestern United States. It is the 6th largest and the 14th most populous of the 50 states. Its capital and largest city is Phoenix. Arizona is part of the Fou ...
found that the Urantia Foundation's 1983 renewal of the book's
copyright
A copyright is a type of intellectual property that gives its owner the exclusive right to copy, distribute, adapt, display, and perform a creative work, usually for a limited time. The creative work may be in a literary, artistic, education ...
was invalid. However, that decision was overturned on appeal.
Urantia Foundation v. Maaherra (9th Cir. 1997)
/ref>
In 2001, a United States jury trial in Oklahoma
Oklahoma (; Choctaw language, Choctaw: ; chr, ᎣᎧᎳᎰᎹ, ''Okalahoma'' ) is a U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States, bordered by Texas on the south and west, Kansas on the nor ...
again found that the Urantia Foundation's 1983 renewal of the book's copyright was invalid.[Michael Foundation, Inc. v. Urantia Foundation v. Harry McMullan, III](_blank)
'' US District Court decision by jury that Urantia Foundation does not hold the copyright to ''The Urantia Book'' However, this decision was upheld in the United States Court of Appeals (10th Circuit),
US Court of Appeals affirms the jury decision that Urantia Foundation did not have valid copyright renewal ''The Urantia Book''public domain
The public domain (PD) consists of all the creative work
A creative work is a manifestation of creative effort including fine artwork (sculpture, paintings, drawing, sketching, performance art), dance, writing (literature), filmmaking, ...
in the US as of 1983. In 2006, the international copyright on the English text expired.trademark
A trademark (also written trade mark or trade-mark) is a type of intellectual property consisting of a recognizable sign, design, or expression that identifies products or services from a particular source and distinguishes them from others ...
for that symbol. The circles are also used with foundation approval to indicate other affiliated organizations.
See also
* Copyright on religious works
In regards to copyright on religious works, it is not always clear who the rightsholder is. Under the provisions of the Berne Convention, copyright is granted to the author on the creation of the work. Several religions claim that all or some of ...
References
Further reading
*
*
*
External links
Urantia Foundation
{{Authority control
Foundations based in the United States
The Urantia Book
New Age organizations
1950 establishments in Illinois
Religious organizations established in 1950