[Koha] Plea for help from Horowhenua Library Trust re: Koha

[G. Laws]

I think it might be interesting to raise this issue with the free press.
Some coverage of the issue in the right places, especially if it might
go viral, could be very powerful. If there is a good writer familiar
with the NZ issues involved that could write up some bullet
points/talking points and send them to the various magazines, /. and
popular bloggers, that would be a good tactical move.


-- 

Greg Lawson
Rolling Hills Consolidated Library
1912 N. Belt Highway
St. Joseph, MO 64506



On 11/21/2011 03:31 PM, Joann Ransom wrote:
> 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.
>
> 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.
>
> 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.
>
> 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.
>
> Regards,
>
> Jo.
>
> -- 
> Joann Ransom RLIANZA
> Head of Libraries,
> Horowhenua Library Trust.