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American Red Cross Sued For Using a Red Cross

Posted by kdawson on from the hard-to-win-a-pissing-match-with-a-saint dept.

Swampash sends us a story that even this community may find hard to believe. Johnson & Johnson, the health-products giant that uses a red cross as its trademark, is suing the American Red Cross, demanding the charity halt its use of the red cross symbol on products it sells to the public. It seems J&J began using the trademark in 1887, 6 years after the Red Cross was formed, but 13 years before the charitable organization was chartered by Congress. Lately the ARC has begun licensing the symbol to third parties to use on fund-raising products such as home emergency kits.

15 of 739 comments (clear)

  1. Switzerland by Tiberius_Fel · · Score: 4, Funny

    Great, now Switzerland will get involved and claim that the red cross is obviously a derivative work of their flag...

    --
    Join the Empire! http://www.empirereborn.net/
    1. Re:Switzerland by Hognoxious · · Score: 4, Funny

      the Swiss were already using a white cross in a red field.
      The french army liked the original and the inverse. They couldn't decide between them so they compromised on a white cross on a white field.
      --
      Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
  2. Radio Shack sues for circle-R use by G4from128k · · Score: 5, Funny

    In other news, Radio Shack plans to sue all companies that put a circle-R after their name. "Their trademark symbol is exploiting our trademark symbol" said aggrieved lawyers for the retailer.

    --
    Two wrongs don't make a right, but three lefts do.
  3. Re:I understand... by techpawn · · Score: 5, Funny

    As long as that "X" isn't a red one...

    --
    Ask not what you can do for your country. Ask what your country did to you
  4. Re:I understand... by M.+Baranczak · · Score: 5, Funny

    If JC came back, the last thing he'd want to look at is a fucking cross.

  5. Re:Hey moron! by Thrip · · Score: 5, Funny

    NUNS DON'T FIGHT. No, they nurse their malice in secret, brooding in silence for decades if necessary, until the perfect opportunity presents itself. Then, they spring into action ...
    --
    I'm awake! The answer is BONK!
  6. Re:I understand... by phoenixwade · · Score: 5, Funny

    "I think I'll go with brand X". "Love that Joker"........
    --
    A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort.
  7. Re:Leave it to kdawson to put on the spin by Binestar · · Score: 4, Funny

    Its still non profit; the proceeds from the kids sold by the ARC go to disaster relief funds.

    As a parent I'm torn between feelings of outrage and a strange compulsion to donate my own children to the red cross...

    --
    Do you Gentoo!?
  8. Re:I understand... by bzipitidoo · · Score: 5, Funny

    JC would be informed that he can sue the both of them for violating His trademark. Adding some coloring isn't good enough.

    --
    Intellectual Property is a monopolistic, selfish, and defective concept. It is "tyranny over the mind of man"
  9. Re:I understand... by Eli+Gottlieb · · Score: 4, Funny

    But it would still be the last thing he sees...

    Moishe, get the nails! He's loose again!

  10. Just change the name by TheAxeMaster · · Score: 5, Funny

    To the American Red Plus Sign. See? Not a cross.

    1. Re:Just change the name by ari+wins · · Score: 5, Funny

      This just in. Jesus is suing both companies, stating his clear association with the cross as grounds for an ex parte decision on royalties owed. His lawyers were heard to be discussing another possible suit, dealing with defamation of product trust concerning the blood the ARC has been collecting. Turns out, getting a transfusion won't in fact clear you of your sins. More at 11.

      --
      Don't worry if you're a kleptomaniac, you can always take something for it.
  11. Re:I understand... by theelectron · · Score: 5, Funny

    What do you use K-Y for?
    I hear it's a jelly, so for sandwiches? With peanut butter right?
  12. Welcome by Dr.+Cody · · Score: 5, Funny

    The Yukon Pine Bark Corporation of Wilmington, DE welcomes your future patronage. Your satisfaction is our number one priority, that's why we fertilize our tracts of pine forest with only the highest quality African AIDS orphan bone meal.

    Signed,
    Dr. Jonathan Cody
    Yukon Pine Bark, LLC

  13. Though I don't have a death-wish. by Kadin2048 · · Score: 4, Funny

    I read that it wasn't actually any better than normal chemicals, it just wouldn't kill you.

    Personally, that seems "better" to me.

    --
    "Ladies and gentlemen, my killbot features Lotus Notes and a machine gun. It is the finest available."