<div class="gmail_quote">2011/11/22 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.<br clear="all"><font color="#888888"><br>-- <br>Joann Ransom RLIANZA<br>
Head of Libraries,<br>
Horowhenua Library Trust.<br><br></font></blockquote><div></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding-left: 1ex;"><font color="#888888">
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<br></blockquote><div><br>Joann,<br>This is preposterous behavior on the part of a greedy company. I strongly denounce this approval of Koha trademark in NZ. <br><br>If there is any way this can reach the Trademark approving authority in NZ, I would like to appeal to them to reconsider the trademark approval. Koha is a open source software from birth. The rightful owners of Koha trademark should be the Koha community and the community has reposed the responsibility of holding such ownership to HLT. So HLT doubly qualifies for holding the Trademarks firstly as the place that gave birth to Koha ( & gave it to the world ) and secondly as stated above, as the body chosen by the Koha community to hold Koha related Trademarks and legal rights. <br>
<br>We stand firmly behind HLT and will do all in our power to help. I have already sent a small donation through paypal towards the Koha Trademark fund. I urge all community members (and even others interested in open source software) to donate as much as they can. <br>
<br>If you think a letter campaign to the Trademark approving authority in NZ might help in this battle, lets organize one. <br><br>Please let us know in what other ways we can help. <br></div></div><br clear="all">Regards,<br>
Koustubha Kale<br>Anant Corporation<br><br>Contact Details :<br>Address : 103, Armaan Residency, R. W Sawant Road, Nr. Golden Dyes Naka, Thane (w),<br> Maharashtra, India, Pin : 400601.<br>TeleFax : +91-22-21720108, +91-22-21720109<br>
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