Since then, the Foundation has received a cease-and-desist letter from the WTO, requesting that we change the logo. While we wish that the WTO agreed with our assessment that the two logos contain substantial differences and could co-exist, we understand their concern. We still believe that there are some significant differences between the Wikivoyage logo and the WTO, however, such arguments are not guaranteed to win if we were to legally oppose this request because there are also some substantial similarities. With this in mind, as well as the fact that the Wikivoyage logo is still relatively new and has not had a chance to build significant brand recognition yet, we believe the better solution is to hold a new community contest for a new logo.

We believe that the community is the best body to decide what logo should represent their hard work and hope that interested community members will take this opportunity to once again showcase their creativity and talent by submitting designs.

Sometime in the next couple of weeks, we will need to launch a contest for the new Wikivoyage logo, but first I'm hoping to get feedback and assistance in making the best process for that possible. We had been considering ways to optimize logo selection by the community, with the idea that we would have plenty of time to talk about the process before needing it. Unfortunately, we now need something quite quickly. Accordingly, I'd be really grateful for feedback on the process, which has been posted here: http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Logo_contest_procedure You can read a little more about it here: http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Talk:Logo_contest_procedure

Hello, all. I've just posted an announcement by legal on Meta ( http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikivoyage/Logo_announcement) about the Wikivoyage logo - unfortunately, we are going to have to choose a new one. To save you all from having to click on the link, I'll reproduce the announcement at the bottom of my email. Sometime in the next couple of weeks, we will need to launch a contest for the new Wikivoyage logo, but first I'm hoping to get feedback and assistance in making the best process for that possible. We had been considering ways to optimize logo selection by the community, with the idea that we would have plenty of time to talk about the process before needing it. Unfortunately, we now need something quite quickly. Accordingly, I'd be really grateful for feedback on the process, which has been posted here: http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Logo_contest_procedure You can read a little more about it here: http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Talk:Logo_contest_procedure I hope you will share your questions, comments and suggestions there. Thanks. Maggie **** As many of you know, the community held a contest to design and decide upon the new logo that would come to represent Wikivoyage, the latest open and collaborative project to be hosted by the Wikimedia Foundation. After review of quite a few fantastic entries and much debate, the logo below was decided upon by community consensus: [omitted; see linked discussion] Unfortunately, both the Foundation and several members of the community discovered that the eventually chosen logo bore a striking resemblance to the World Trade Organization (“WTO”) logo: [omitted; see linked discussion] At that time, the Foundation reviewed the two logos and believed that, while some risk existed, there were significant enough differences between the designs and the markets the two organizations occupied for both logos to co-exist. Since then, the Foundation has received a cease-and-desist letter from the WTO, requesting that we change the logo. While we wish that the WTO agreed with our assessment that the two logos contain substantial differences and could co-exist, we understand their concern. We still believe that there are some significant differences between the Wikivoyage logo and the WTO, however, such arguments are not guaranteed to win if we were to legally oppose this request because there are also some substantial similarities. With this in mind, as well as the fact that the Wikivoyage logo is still relatively new and has not had a chance to build significant brand recognition yet, we believe the better solution is to hold a new community contest for a new logo. We believe that the community is the best body to decide what logo should represent their hard work and hope that interested community members will take this opportunity to once again showcase their creativity and talent by submitting designs. The WTO has been very understanding of the Wikimedia movement’s values and need for community consensus and has agreed to grant us ample time to develop a new logo through community processes. (Please see the proposed Logo contest procedure<http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Logo_contest_procedure>re>.) That said, we hope to begin the process of community consultation and input in the next few days so that the new logo can be in place by the end of July. With that, we look forward to seeing new designs! Michelle Paulson <http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Mpaulson_(WMF)> Legal and Community Advocacy Wikimedia Foundation -- Maggie Dennis Senior Community Advocate Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.