American Red Cross logo litigation

Although it may not have occured to you before, the criss-crossed crimson bars emblazoned on the trucks and uniforms of humanitarian relief workers worldwide is indeed a logo. While this iconic emblem of hope has become globaly synonymous with the service it represents , there is now a legal battle over who actually has the rights to use the image.

I was astonished to consider that such an iconic emblem could in fact BE owned by some corporate entity. It's akin to the male and female symbol being trademarked by one firm or another.

But indeed there has been a loose understanding between the American Red Cross and the Johnson & Johnson pharmacudical company for quite a long time.

[quote from Reuters: J&J sues Red Cross over commercial use of logo

J&J said American Red Cross founder Clara Barton in 1895 signed a deal with J&J agreeing and acknowledging the company's "exclusive use of a red cross as a trademark and otherwise for chemical, surgical, pharmaceutical goods of every description."

After over 100 years of amicable co-use of the image, Johnson & Johnson has filed suit against the Red Cross for using the logo in commercial sales efforts. The Red Cross has used the logo on commercial first aid products sold in stores across the marketplace incluing Target & Walmart stores.

In its lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, the maker of Band-Aids said it has for more than 100 years "owned exclusive trademark rights in the Red Cross Design for first aid and wound care products sold to the consuming public, including first aid kits."

I can't help but be a little blue after reading about this. After 100 years of peaceful commercial/humanitarian cooperation money threatens to sever the ties. Where money is involved , things can get really messy - somebody call for a medic!