Red Cross Sued

[Dubh Aingeal]

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.

[n0Mad]

I have a feeling J&J is going to loose. A red cross is the international symbol for emergency medical services. Plus, it's against the *mumble* Convention (Geneva? Or was it a different one?) to fire on any military (or even non-military) vehicle bearing a red cross. I think international military and peace treaty law can trump J&J's trademark any day, whatever the legalities involved are.