Here is an interesting short article about the politics and business surrounding Shaolin Temple.

The temple's leaders say they have had enough of this debasement and have persuaded the Chinese government to declare the name a recognized brand, protecting it under the rules of the World Trade Organization...
"All across history, Shaolin Temple has served the emperors," said Liang Yiquan, 74, the director of the nearby Shaolin Epo Martial Arts School. "Now they serve the Communist Party. There's a political element to it."