Our History

What follows is a factual chronology, anchored to the primary documents in the public court record of Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, Inc. v. Kary, Los Angeles Superior Court case BC 170617. It describes events, not motives.

• 29 May 1972 — The Trust is created Srila Prabhupada executes the Trust Agreement of the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, transferring all of his books and all property rights incidental to them to three trustees, to hold in trust. Trustees are appointed for lifetime; the trust is irrevocable; ISKCON is the beneficiary. Source: 1972 Trust Agreement (BC 170617 record, Exhibit B).
• 14 November 1977 — Srila Prabhupada's departure Srila Prabhupada passes away in Vrindavan, India. Under the 1972 instrument, the Trust continues, administered by its surviving trustees.
• 1988 — A separate corporation is formed The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, Inc. ("BBTI") is incorporated in California as a corporation distinct from the 1972 Trust. The 1998 judgment would later recite that BBTI "has acted as the authorized agent of the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust since the incorporation of BBTI in or about 1988." Source: Stipulated Judgment, 13 November 1998.
• 5 May 1997 — Litigation begins BBTI and ISKCON of California, Inc. file case BC 170617 in the Los Angeles Superior Court. The pleadings put in issue who owns Srila Prabhupada's works — including a theory that they were "works for hire" belonging to ISKCON rather than to the 1972 Trust. Source: BC 170617 case file.
• 13 November 1998 — Settlement and judgment The action settles before trial. The court enters a Stipulated Judgment that confirms and ratifies ownership of the copyrights in "the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust (BBT), created … on May 29, 1972," finds the BBT a valid California religious trust with ISKCON as beneficiary, and recites BBTI's role as the Trust's authorised agent. The accompanying settlement records that the name "Bhaktivedanta Book Trust" is owned solely by the Licensor — the Trust — and a licence covering the original, pre-1978 editions is granted to a licensee, Krishna Books Inc. Source: Settlement Agreement and Stipulated Judgment, 13 November 1998.
• 1999 onwards — The years between The settling trustees having resigned as part of the settlement, publishing of the works continued through the corporate agent and licensees. Questions about how the Trust's own trusteeship was constituted in and after that settlement — and whether the 1972 instrument's requirements were followed — are the subject of the Trust's present court process.
• Today — Reconstitution The Trust is being lawfully reconstituted. Confirmation of its trusteeship is before the California Superior Court under Probate Code § 17200, with the Attorney General served as the law requires for a charitable trust. The Trust's ownership of the works, confirmed in 1998, is the foundation on which it now acts: restoring the availability of the original, unrevised books and welcoming licence applications.