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==== FACTNet ====
In 1998, Scientology sued FACTNet for claimed copyright violations. When federal judge John Kane denied Scientology's request for summary judgment because FACTNet challenged Scientology's ownership of the copyrights of the documents, a settlement was reached in 1999. The terms were that if FACTNet is ever found guilty of violations of Church copyrights, they are permanently enjoined to pay the Church $1 million.
=== Religious Technology Center v. Gerbode ===
In Religious Technology Center v. Gerbode, 1994 WL 228607 (C.D. Cal. 1994) (against Frank A. Gerbode, inventor of Traumatic Incident Reduction), a Rule 11 sanction of $8,887.50 was imposed against Helena Kobrin, an attorney for the Church, for bringing baseless and frivolous claims.
== Regulatory and administrative actions ==
=== 1965 — Australia: Anderson Report ===
In 1965, the Australian state of Victoria published the Anderson Report, the first major government inquiry into Scientology. Conducted by Kevin Victor Anderson QC, the inquiry concluded that Scientology was "a delusional belief system" and described its practices as medically, morally, and socially harmful. The report led Victoria to enact the Psychological Practices Act of 1965, which restricted Scientology's activities and inspired similar legislation in other Australian states. Although no convictions were obtained and the laws were later repealed, the inquiry marked the first significant regulatory action taken against Scientology and shaped subsequent government responses in Australia and internationally.
=== 1969 — New Zealand: Dumbleton–Powles Report ===
In 1969, the New Zealand government published the Dumbleton–Powles Report, the findings of a Commission of Inquiry chaired by E. V. Dumbleton and Sir Guy Powles. Prompted by a 1968 petition calling for an investigation into Scientology's influence on families and young people, the commission held hearings to examine allegations of coercive or harmful practices. After reviewing testimony from former members, families, and experts, the Commission concluded that “the activities, methods, and practices of Scientology did result in persons being subjected to improper or unreasonable pressures.” The Commission stopped short of recommending legislative action, and accepted assurances from Scientology that it would modify its practices.
=== 2006 — France: Parliamentary report ===
In 2006, a French parliament report designated the Church of Scientology as a dangerous sect.
== Litigation for religious recognition ==
One goal of the Church of Scientology is to be recognized as a religion or a tax-free charity, which has met resistance from several governments, with Scientology taking to the courts with varying results. For example, Scientology's path to legal recognition as a religion in New Zealand took 48 years and several lawsuits. In 1999, the United Kingdom rejected an application for charity status and the attendant tax benefits. Scientology applied for Canadian tax-exempt status in 1998, was rejected in 1999, and is not registered as a charity as of 2009. In Austria, the organization withdrew its application to register as a "religious confessional community". Some governments have labeled the Church as a cult. German and Belgian government entities have accused Scientology of violating the human rights of its members and therefore called it a "totalitarian cult" and a "commercial enterprise". In 1995, a parliamentary report in France classified it as a "dangerous cult". In Russia, the government had refused to consider Scientology for registration as a religious organization, which became the subject of proceedings before the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Church of Scientology Moscow v. Russia.
=== 1995–2000 — Switzerland: Religious status litigation ===
In several cases between 1995 and 2000, the Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland consistently ruled that the Church of Scientology was a primarily commercial, rather than religious, organization, and in 2003 upheld a decision to force closure of a Scientology-affiliated school.
=== 1967–1993 — United States: IRS tax-exemption dispute ===
From the time its tax exemption was removed by the IRS in 1967 to the reinstatement of the tax exemption in 1993, Scientologists filed approximately 2,500 lawsuits against the IRS. Over fifty lawsuits were still active against the IRS in 1993, although these were settled after the Church negotiated a tax exemption with the government.
=== 2007 — Russia: Church of Scientology Moscow v. Russia (ECHR) ===
Church of Scientology Moscow v. Russia was decided on April 5, 2007 when the Church of Scientology of Moscow won a judgment against the Russian government establishing its right to recognition as a religious organization. The European Court of Human Rights held that the government's refusal of registration "had no lawful basis ... the Moscow authorities did not act in good faith and neglected their duty of neutrality and impartiality vis-à-vis the applicant's religious community."