Copyright Discussions
with Adidam
Beezone and Adidam Update
Beezone is no longer working with ASA (The Avataric Samrajya of Adidam Pty Ltd, as trustee for The Avataric Samrajya of Adidam, which owns all of Avatar Adi Da Samraj’s intellectual property, including the trademark ADIDAM) to align Beezone’s use of ASA’s intellectual property with “fair use” and the terms of their mutual license agreement.
After 10 years of collaboration, Adidam has chosen to withdraw from this ongoing process. This decision was made without conflict or unresolved disputes.
Moving forward, Beezone will following Fair Use allowances below.
Ed Reither, Beezone
January 31, 2025
In the United States, the qualifying criteria for fair use, including modifying a copyrighted book, are based on four factors as outlined in Section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Act (see below). These factors help determine whether the use is considered “fair” and thus exempt from requiring permission from the copyright holder:
Under the fair use doctrine of the U.S. copyright statute, it is permissible to use limited portions of a work including quotes, for purposes such as commentary, criticism, news reporting, and scholarly reports. There are no legal rules permitting the use of a specific number of words, a certain number of musical notes, or percentage of a work. Whether a particular use qualifies as fair use depends on all the circumstances. See, Fair Use Index, and Circular 21, Reproductions of Copyrighted Works by Educators and Librarians.
https://www.copyright.gov/
Purpose and character of the use, including whether the use is of a commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes: Courts look at how the party claiming fair use is using the copyrighted work, and are more likely to find that nonprofit educational and noncommercial uses are fair. This does not mean, however, that all nonprofit education and noncommercial uses are fair and all commercial uses are not fair; instead, courts will balance the purpose and character of the use against the other factors…
1. Purpose and Character of the Use
- Transformative vs. Reproductive: If the modification adds new expression, meaning, or message (transformative use), it is more likely to qualify as fair use. For example, commentary, criticism, parody, or educational purposes are often considered transformative.
- Commercial vs. Non-commercial: Non-commercial uses are more likely to be fair use, though commercial uses may still qualify if sufficiently transformative.
2. Nature of the Copyrighted Work
- Factual vs. Fictional: Works that are more factual in nature (like textbooks) are more likely to qualify for fair use compared to highly creative works like novels or poetry.
- Published vs. Unpublished: If the work has already been published, fair use is more likely to apply. Using unpublished works is generally less protected under fair use.
3. Amount and Substantiality of the Portion Used
- Quantity: Using smaller portions of the work, such as brief excerpts, is more likely to be fair use. However, in some cases, even small portions may not qualify if they are the “heart” of the work.
- Quality: If the part used is considered the most important or recognizable portion of the work, this can weigh against a finding of fair use, even if the amount used is small.
4. Effect of the Use on the Market
- Market Harm: If the modified use reduces the market for the original work or serves as a substitute for it, this can count against fair use. For example, if the modification could compete with the original book or impact sales, it’s less likely to qualify.
- Derivative Works: If the modification undermines the potential market for licensed derivative works (like adaptations or sequels), this can also weigh against fair use.
These factors are balanced against one another, and no single factor determines the outcome. The more transformative and non-commercial the use, and the less it impacts the market for the original work, the more likely it is to qualify as fair use.
Digital Copyright – by Jessica Litman
The Spiritual Community
of
The Call for Spiritual Leadership
(updated)
The following article emphasizes that only through actual practice of the Way can devotees maintain alignment with the Spiritual Master, who is the Source of the Way of the Heart. True spiritual practice requires self-transcendence in relation to all arising conditions, as opposed to allowing the ego to persist, which leads to conflict, confusion, and chaos. Because of the ego’s tenacious and subversive nature, even in well-intentioned practitioners, the Heart Master has called for mature devotees to lead the Communion to ensure its alignment and effectiveness.
Unlike corporate executives or charismatic religious leaders who rely on strong wills and personality, genuine spiritual practitioners must guide sacred institutions based on spiritual principles rather than conventional power structures. While management expertise is necessary, the primary guiding force must be spiritual understanding.
The article points to Adi Da Himself as the ultimate example of compassion, self-giving, and sacrifice, demonstrating how a true spiritual leader serves others rather than seeking personal gain. A mature devotee, as defined by Adi Da, is one who practices not for personal benefit but for the sake of others, inspiring the same in the community. By aligning with His Transcendental Mood, devotees can genuinely serve one another and remain connected to the living current of the Way.
This article also highlights an every present critical turning point for the Communion and the Community. For the institution to remain authentic while continuing to grow, devotees must take responsibility—both for their individual practice and for the culture of practice as a whole. Irresponsibility and complacency are no longer options; devotees have inherited something of great value and must now learn how to rightly accept, share, and preserve it.
The Way of the Heart presents an immeasurable opportunity in the face of the world’s suffering, but each devotee must make a conscious choice to respond to the Teaching Revelation of the True Heart-Master. The article warns against doubt, complacency, and neglect of the Divine Grace offered through Adi Da’s Incarnation. It calls for devotees to fully embrace the Divine Lover, ensuring that the Great Work continues and flourishes through their active participation, service, and devotion—not just for the present but for all time. – Beezone
Can the Present and Future of Adi Da’s influence be Assessed?
A Confidential Survey
Test your Knowledge
Adidam
Growing, Standing Still, or Dying
Pilgrimage to Adi Da Samrajashram
This opinioned essay is Beezone’s attempt to understand the origins and truth about the diffuse, varied,
and impassioned dialogues that circulated in and about the Adidam community in 2019.
It is with this extraordinary context in mind that ALL must confront a sobering reality:
Sixteen years after his Mahasamadhi, the thousands of persons who had the opportunity to see, hear, and be in his company show no real signs of his influence with the world in the radical way Adi Da envisioned.
A Talk by Adi Da Samraj gave after visiting Sri Aurobindo Ashram, a community in Pondicherry, South India, in 1973, adapted by Beezone
“Truth to Power – the only sane, insightful, and meaningful voice I’ve heard amid the cacophony of the post Mahasamadhi mayhem.”
In March of 2006, Adi Da called for the elimination of all such references to wording
– in his literature – that made references to ‘progressive‘ or ‘stages of life.’
“I have been activated for this very purpose, to cause Realization of Me, of My Very Sate,
in the case of devotees of Mine. And to date, this has not occurred in the case of anyone.“
Adi Da Samraj, October 2005
The Communion cannot just open its arms and say, “Look at this loving Master and come and be His devotee.” That point of view is totally inappropriate. It invites cultism and egoic participation. The Communion must present its point of view clearly, clearly describe the Way of the Heart as it is in all its stages, and help people to understand the limitations that necessarily exist in someone who first expresses an interest in the Spiritual Way, help people to understand that basically they are not yet ready for the Spiritual Process, not even really willing to endure what is necessary to enter into the Spiritual Process. – Good Company
The practices of the Way can be engaged by self-possessed people, without insight, as merely mechanical affectations or manipulations of the superficial nervous system, the superficial body and mind. Thus, people can read a lot, chant a lot, make holy gestures to one another a lot, and talk about the Teaching a lot. Still they only exploit the body-mind, although perhaps in a somewhat different way than other people exploit it. Perhaps they are a little more benign, a little more orderly than others who recklessly indulge themselves, but, even so, they are not entering into a dimension or condition of the body-mind that is other than superficial. They are...mechanically repeating a way of religious activities in a context of social membership supporting one anothers illusions.
Read More:
***