As much as I hate to say it, I wonder if it isn't time to give up this fight. The truth is that the law isn't really on the Koha community's side on this issue because of the sale of the domain to Liblime way back when. That sale really makes the difference as to whether we have any legal footing on this issue. It is clear that the moral issue is meaningless so hoping for others to just do the right thing isn't going to happen. There has already been plenty of outrage expressed by the Koha community and clearly it hasn't made a difference.<div>
<br></div><div>In the interest of keeping the community on track, I strongly urge everyone to reconsider taking up this legal battle and focusing again on Koha, the name, instead of Koha, the software and, more important, Koha, the community. We lost over a year in wrangling with Liblime/PTFS and I think the product suffered for it, as did the community. </div>
<div><br></div><div>Could we possibly find another wonderful word from the birthplace of Koha and make a fresh start? I'm sure the same creative minds that came up with Koha could find another word that is appropriate for this new stage of life and we could just start fresh. Let Liblime take the word, they will never take the community. And the confusion between the true Koha and Liblime Koha hurts the community a whole lot more than it hurts Liblime.</div>
<div><br></div><div>I say this with the community interests at heart. I really believe it would be best to walk away from this fight. Disengage and focus on what is most important.<br clear="all"><div><div><br></div><div>
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=</div><div><div>Lori Bowen Ayre // </div><div>Library Technology Consultant / The Galecia Group</div><div>Oversight Board & Communications Committee / Evergreen</div>
<div>(707) 763-6869 // <a href="mailto:Lori.Ayre@galecia.com" target="_blank">Lori.Ayre@galecia.com</a></div><div><br></div><div><a href="mailto:Lori.Ayre@galecia.com" target="_blank"></a>Specializing in open source ILS solutions, RFID, filtering, </div>
<div>workflow optimization, and materials handling <br><div>=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=</div></div></div></div><br>
<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">2011/11/21 Joann Ransom <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:jransom@library.org.nz">jransom@library.org.nz</a>></span><br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex;">
As I am sure most of you are aware, Horowhenua Library Trust is the birth place of Koha and the longest serving member of the Koha community. Back in 1999 when we were working on Koha, the idea that 12
years later we would be having to write an email like this never
crossed our minds. It is with tremendous sadness that we must write
this plea for help to you, the other members of the Koha community.<br>
<br>
The situation we find ourselves in, is that after over a year of battling against it, PTFS/Liblime have managed to have their
application for a Trademark on Koha in New Zealand accepted. We now
have 3 months to object, but to do so involves lawyers and money. We
are a small semi rural Library in New Zealand and have no cash spare
in our operational budget to afford this, but we do feel it is
something we must fight.<br>
<br>
For the library that invented Koha to now have to have a legal battle
to prevent a US company trademarking the word in NZ seems bizarre, but
it is at this point that we find ourselves.<br>
<br>
So, we ask you, the users and developers of Koha, from the birth place of Koha, please if you can help in anyway, let us know.<br><br>Regards,<br><br>Jo.<span class="HOEnZb"><font color="#888888"><br clear="all"><br>-- <br>
Joann Ransom RLIANZA<br>Head of Libraries,<br>
Horowhenua Library Trust.<br><br>
<div></div>
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<br></blockquote></div><br></div>