AUCKLAND: The Horowhenua Library Trust says US company, PTFS LibLime has hijacked its devised library management software developed in New Zealand 12 years ago and taken a trademark on its Maori name. The software system called Koha, manages and catalogues lending information. Widely used by other libraries, churches, schools and corporations around the world, Koha is a free software system. The Trust's Head of Libraries, Joann Ransom, says PTFS LibLime has been granted provisional rights to the name Koha by the Ministry of Economic Development. “We did something really good and we gave it away to the world and it's been a glorious thing globally for 12 years. And now this American corporate wants to take it,” said Ransom. Ransom found it astounding that a Maori word could become a trademark. However New Zealand's Intellectual Property Office cannot turn down a trademark application unless it is offensive to Maori or there is an existing trademark on a similar product thus weakening the Trust's case. LibLime Chief Executive, John Yokley says the company is entitled to trademark the Koha because it bought the rights from a Wellington-based company, Kati Communications. Kati Communication reportedly developed Koha in association with the Horowhenua Library Trust. Despite the objection to the trademark, Ransom says the Trust has little money to pay for any legal case. BM
