FAITH vs. FREE SPEECH: The LDS Church Tries to SILENCE the Mormon Stories Podcast | Who's Right!?
Can a church use trademark and copyright law to silence or restrict criticism?
Today, September 4, 2026, the University of Utah’s S.J. Quinney College of Law is hosting a fascinating discussion: “Faith, Fair Use and the First Amendment: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints v. Mormon Stories Podcast.”
The event examines the legal battle between The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Mormon Stories Podcast, including some major questions about the limits of intellectual property law and freedom of expression.
Among the issues being discussed:
• Fair use and copyright law
• Trademark infringement
• Initial interest confusion
• Dilution by tarnishment
• Implied sponsorship and endorsement
• Religious identity and branding
• The First Amendment and religious criticism
• What this could mean for podcasts, nonprofits, journalists, critics, and independent creators
The larger question is fascinating: Where does legitimate protection of a religious organization’s intellectual property end—and where does protected criticism and free expression begin?
Professor Jorge L. Contreras, a leading intellectual-property scholar at the University of Utah, is presenting the discussion.
In this video, I take a look at the event, the legal issues surrounding the Mormon Stories dispute, and what this fight could potentially mean for the future of criticism of the LDS Church.
Is this really about protecting intellectual property—or could cases like this have broader implications for religious speech and the First Amendment?
Let’s talk about it.
#MormonStories #LDSChurch #FirstAmendment #FairUse #FreeSpeech #Mormonism #LDS #Copyright #Trademark #ReligiousFreedom
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