Between 1954 and 2020, only four English-language scholarly monographs have been published about Scientology (Wallis 1977 [1976]; Whitehead 1987; Urban 2011; Westbrook 2019).[1] Most other critical works have come in the form of
apostatememoirs: books written by ex-members about their experiences within the
Church of Scientology (CoS).[1] On several occasions, the licensee of the CoS has initiated copyright infringement lawsuits to restrain the publication of books critical of Scientology or its founder,
L. Ron Hubbard.[1][2] Since 2008, the Internet has been able to provide a much safer ground for publishing material critical of the CoS, because traditional copyright law had little application there.[1]
Between 1954 and 2020, only four English-language scholarly monographs have been published about Scientology (Wallis 1977 [1976]; Whitehead 1987; Urban 2011; Westbrook 2019).[1] Most other critical works have come in the form of
apostatememoirs: books written by ex-members about their experiences within the
Church of Scientology (CoS).[1] On several occasions, the licensee of the CoS has initiated copyright infringement lawsuits to restrain the publication of books critical of Scientology or its founder,
L. Ron Hubbard.[1][2] Since 2008, the Internet has been able to provide a much safer ground for publishing material critical of the CoS, because traditional copyright law had little application there.[1]