Schuller: I retain rights to my work

The founder of the Crystal Cathedral has told a California bankruptcy court that he never gave up ownership of any of his written materials. Ownership of those writings, as well as audio and video recordings made by the minister and his family, are at the heart of a lawsuit the Rev. Robert H. Schuller and his wife, Arvella, have filed against the directors of the church, the Los Angeles Times reported. Schuller testified Wednesday that he was unaware some of his teachings had been offered for free over the Internet or that he had given "implied consent" for his work to be used by the ministry. The minister and his wife, daughter and son-in-law claim the ministry infringed their copyrights and intellectual property and owes them for unpaid contracts. Their claims have stalled the ministry's Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, which says the ministry has $50 million in debts. Schuller has said in court filings that when the church was beginning legal matters were often handled informally, sometimes with verbal agreements.