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American Red Cross Sued For Using a Red Cross
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.
J&J is suing catholic church for use of the cross and demands that it be removed from all the church buildings. When asked about the validity of their claim, J&J spokesperson replied that they feel that since the time is relative, they have as much right to the simbol as the church.
You mean that we had en.wikipedia.org back then too?
Wow, imagine being ahead of your times , way before the internet even existed!
I thought that the Red Cross was protected under international law and couldn't be used for non-humaitarian purposes.
Oh wait, this is in America, where international law doesn't apply. Sorry.
Secondly before you get angry and JnJ for being monsters, remember that (in the US) if you don't defend your trademark you lose it.
You know what, I don't give a shit. When a huge multination company uses an entity who's ONLY purpose is to help those in need, they are monsters. I could give a damn if J&J loses their trade mark... though shit for them for picking a mark created by the Red Cross years before.
J&J can rot in hell for all I care.
I also just wanted to add this so someone might mod this closer to the top. People who give to the Red Cross should see this thread.
SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
I wish they would. Maybe that way, there would be fewer bibles around. Nothing good ever comes of it when people open that damned book.
The International Committee (18631029) and American (1881????) Red Cross were both in existence and using the "Red Cross" prior to J&J (1887????). J&J and their legal are really big fyucking idiots. J&J just screwed themselves to the wall (another example of USA Corporatism). The ICRC & ARC can demand J&J halt its use of the red cross symbol on products it sells to the public and pay for previous use and pay the ICRC license fees for any further future use. J&J ... such boneheads, maybe they are like other C-average pirate skulls&bones leaders, empty-space where there was never a brain; Therefore, useless, but terrifyingly threating.
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... "Hold It", that may be an astrix*, and globally J&J would lay claim to all logos and text in the world, I hope it is already copyright/trademark protected in the USA from corporatist/congressional piracy.
IOW: It does not mater (even in the USA) when J&J began using the "Red Cross" trademark, it was illegal and infringed on the property right of the IRIC. If the ARC has begun licensing the symbol to third parties then approval by the ICRC has been obtained or is required.
Resolutions of the Geneva International Conference. Geneva, 26-29 October 1863.
http://www.icrc.org/IHL.nsf/52d68d14de6160e0c1256
The International Conference, desirous of coming to the aid of the wounded should the Military Medical Services prove inadequate, adopts the following Resolutions:
Article 1...7
Article 8. They shall wear in all countries, as a uniform distinctive sign, a WHITE ARMLET WITH A RED CROSS.
Article 9...10
Maybe J&J can start using a circle to represent their empty cranial capacity or a virticle bar with an x on it
!HAVEFUN!
Unaccountable leaders are masters, and unrepresented people are slaves. How do US and EU fare?