Trademark Management Procedures

The quality and integrity of the Zope brand is important to the entire Zope community. Zope Corporation has established the following procedures to help ensure that the trademark management process is effective and fair.

The grant of a license to the Zope trademark by Zope Corporation is very liberal, and does not cost any money. There has been a question in the community that Zope Corporation may withhold or revoke a license based upon competitive concerns.

We understand that the control we're exercising over the Zope trademark requires some faith on behalf of the community, and hope that the addition of the following procedures will ensure an open and transparent process, with community involvement in any rejection of a license request.

In order for this process to be fair to new licensees, Zope Corporation considers it imperative for a large percentage of existing Zope sites to abide by these procedures and sign the existing license agreement.

To be clear about this - if we can't get both (a) a critical mass of current users of the Zope trademark to license the mark, and (b) quality participation on the ZTAG (described below), we will eliminate this process.

Procedures

Zope Corporation will establish a Zope Trademark Advisory Group (ZTAG). The ZTAG will be comprised of individuals periodically elected by the Zope community.

Zope Corporation will collect trademark license applications. Zope Corporation may grant or reject these license applications. If Zope Corporation rejects an application or revokes a previously granted license, we will convene the ZTAG. The ZTAG will, in private, review the rejected applications and/or revoked licenses. If the ZTAG concurs with Zope Corporation's decision the rejection or revocation will stand.

If the ZTAG disagrees with Zope Corporation's rejection or revocation, the issue will be publicized to the Zope community on the Zope.com website for review and comment. Zope Corporation will reconvene the ZTAG thirty (30) days later to reconsider the rejected application or revocation. At the conclusion of this session Zope Corporation will, in its sole discretion make a final determination. Any final determinations that disagree with the ZTAG will be published on zope.com

Building our online business is a top priority for GateHouse Media, both in terms of revenue and audience. Our goal with implementing the Zope system is to improve our online revenues whether through testing new revenue projects in selected markets or by launching a proven idea quickly across our entire company.
- Mike Reed, CEO, Gatehouse Media