Youtuber and protester Confident Chris obtained a great shot in his recent livestream on LRH Way.
The Cult is now using a boilerplate crowd release sign to notify protesters and the general public that by walking on L. Ron Hubbard Way they are irrevocably consenting to, and authorizing, Scientology Media Productions to film and exploit their image forever.
As a general observation, the sign needs to be posted at eye-level to be compliant and readable to all.
Given that there is a) no expectation of privacy in public and that b) Scientology already has dozens of surveillance cameras on LRH Way, the sign serves to inform the public that Scientology Media Production will be filming everything and everyone on LRH Way for some sort of production.
The intent of Crowd Consent and Release notices is to inform the public that they have no rights to the film and will not be paid any money if their faces are used in a film production shot on private property.
Crowd Notice Consent and Release signs have long been used. Here is an example of the legal reasoning for posting these notices (emphasis ours):
Persons do not have an absolute legal right to prevent publication of any photo taken of them without their permission. If every person had such a right, no photo could be published of a street scene or a parade.
Liability usually exists only if publication of a photo would be offensive to people of ordinary sensibilities, or is defamatory or invades their right of privacy. See, for example, Gill v. Hearst Publishing, 40 Cal. 2d 224 (1953). However, the use of a person’s image or likeness without their permission to sell a product would likely infringe their right of publicity and give rise to liability.
If you are using a posted crowd release, it is good practice to take a photo of all the entrances with the sign clearly posted in public view. The notice should be large enough that those passing by will clearly see it.
SMP may be shooting a piece which attacks free speech in a defamatory manner and attempts to characterize it as hate. Scientology engaged in this behavior during the 2008 Anonymous protests and may be preparing to do the same in 2024.
As mentioned, Scientology has, for decades, conducted video surveillance on a 24/7/365 basis at all of its Orgs, so this new sign is merely a legal notice of a film production intended for public or internal usage. SMP may be filming the protesters as a form of in-house fundraising: More money is needed to stop the bigots/haters/terrorists/Marcab Invaders!
Scientology is watching you livestreaming it!
Categories: The Scientology Money Project
They are probably using the sign as part of their excuse for closing down the street to shoot promos.
I read it a bit differently: it seems to form the legal basis to be able to use the footage of all the dozens of surveillance cameras on LRH Way. In other words: All surveillance cameras on LRH Way now belong to SMP.
Public access sidewalks and streets, I’m wondering at what point the ACLU will take the public’s side, and send some newbie lawyers over to the protests and read some of these contracts.