content: <PAGE>
  
  
                         SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                               Washington, D.C. 20549
  
                                      FORM 8-K
  
                                   CURRENT REPORT
                           Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
                       of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
  
         Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): January 14, 2002
  
  
                                KANA SOFTWARE, INC.
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
  
  
                                      Delaware
               ------------------------------------------------------
                   (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
  
  
  
          000-27163                                   77-0435679
  ----------------------------                 --------------------------
         (Commission                                 (IRS Employer
         File Number)                              Identification No.)
  
  
  
       181 Constitution Drive, Menlo Park, CA                  94025
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (Address of principal executive offices)                (Zip Code)
  
  
                                   (650) 614-8300
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           (Registrant's telephone number)
  
  
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
  
  
  
  <PAGE>
  
  ITEM 5:   OTHER EVENTS.
  
       On January 14, 2002, Kana Software, Inc. issued a press release announcing
  that its Board of Directors has withdrawn its recommendation to the Kana
  stockholders that they vote in favor of the proposal described in the definitive
  proxy statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December
  28, 2001 and sent to Kana stockholders in connection with the special meeting of
  stockholders to approve the issuance by Kana of up to $45 million of 8% Series A
  convertible preferred stock in a private placement. Kana's Board of Directors
  now recommends that stockholders vote against the proposed financing.
  
       A copy of such press release is filed as an exhibit to this Current Report
  on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein and in the definitive proxy statement
  described above by reference.
  
  Item 7:   FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS
  
            (c)   Exhibits.
  
            The following exhibit is filed herewith:
  
  99.01    Press release dated January 14, 2002
  
  
  
  <PAGE>
  
                                      SIGNATURE
  
       Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
  Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
  undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
  
  Date:  January 14, 2002                KANA SOFTWARE, INC.
  
  
                                         By:   /s/  Eric H. Willgohs
                                               -----------------------------------
                                               Eric H. Willgohs
                                               Secretary
  
  
  
  <PAGE>
  
                                    EXHIBIT INDEX
  
  Exhibit
  -------
  
  99.01    Press release dated January 14, 2002
metadata_documents: [{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "filename": "d8k.txt", "description": "FORM 8-K", "secsgml_size_bytes": 3335}]
metadata_filer: {"company-data": {"conformed-name": "KANA SOFTWARE INC", "cik": "0001089907", "assigned-sic": "7389", "irs-number": "770435679", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "000-27163", "film-number": "2509062"}, "business-address": {"street1": "181 CONSTITUTION DRIVE", "city": "MENLO PARK", "state": "CA", "zip": "94025", "phone": "6506148300"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "181 CONSTITUTION DRIVE", "city": "MENLO PARK", "state": "CA", "zip": "94025"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "KANA COMMUNICATIONS INC", "date-changed": "19990702"}}
text: SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                               Washington, D.C. 20549
  
                                      FORM 8-K
  
                                   CURRENT REPORT
                           Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
                       of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
  
         Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): January 14, 2002
  
                                KANA SOFTWARE, INC.
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
  
                                      Delaware
               ------------------------------------------------------
                   (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
  
          000-27163                                   77-0435679
  ----------------------------                 --------------------------
         (Commission                                 (IRS Employer
         File Number)                              Identification No.)
  
       181 Constitution Drive, Menlo Park, CA                  94025
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (Address of principal executive offices)                (Zip Code)
  
                                   (650) 614-8300
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           (Registrant's telephone number)
  
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
  ITEM 5:   OTHER EVENTS.
  
       On January 14, 2002, Kana Software, Inc. issued a press release announcing
  that its Board of Directors has withdrawn its recommendation to the Kana
  stockholders that they vote in favor of the proposal described in the definitive
  proxy statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December
  28, 2001 and sent to Kana stockholders in connection with the special meeting of
  stockholders to approve the issuance by Kana of up to $45 million of 8% Series A
  convertible preferred stock in a private placement. Kana's Board of Directors
  now recommends that stockholders vote against the proposed financing.
  
       A copy of such press release is filed as an exhibit to this Current Report
  on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein and in the definitive proxy statement
  described above by reference.
  
  Item 7:   FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS
  
            (c)   Exhibits.
  
            The following exhibit is filed herewith:
  
  99.01    Press release dated January 14, 2002
  SIGNATURE
  
       Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
  Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
  undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
  
  Date:  January 14, 2002                KANA SOFTWARE, INC.
  
                                         By:   /s/  Eric H. Willgohs
                                               -----------------------------------
                                               Eric H. Willgohs
                                               Secretary
  EXHIBIT INDEX
  
  Exhibit
  -------
  
  99.01    Press release dated January 14, 2002