American Library Association Faced Name Infringement by Commercial Traveling Library in 1899
In 1899, the American Library Association (ALA) encountered a situation where a commercial traveling library was operating under its name. Robert Kilbourn of the H. Parmelee Library Company alerted ALA President Reuben G. Thwaites about this entity, run by Reverend George F. Nason. Kilbourn described Nason's operation as being 'of a bad character' and misleading to its patrons, noting that Nason had also lifted content from H. Parmelee Library Company's publications. ALA Secretary Henry Carr contacted Nason regarding the name infringement, expressing concern that using the ALA's well-known name could be an attempt to mislead or engage in illegitimate activities. Nason initially claimed ignorance of another American Library Association and proposed changing his company's name to the 'National Library Association.' However, Carr objected to this, stating that Nason's commercial venture was not a library association and could not legitimately use such a name.
