Johnsons go for the Red Cross jugular
The IPKat's scholarly friend Caroline Wilson (School of Law, University of Southampton) sent him this remarkable piece from The Independent concerning an action Johnson & Johnson is bringing against charitable organisation American Red Cross for trade mark infringement. According to the news report, J&J say the red cross belongs to them while the Red Cross, calling the lawsuit "obscene", says the two organisations have coexisted peacefully for over a century, sharing use of the red cross on a white background, which has grown to become an international symbol of aid and disaster relief. Not so, says J&J - the Red Cross has gone beyond its traditional use of the logo by launching first-aid kits, nail clippers, combs and toothbrushes in direct competition with its own products.
The Red Cross says it licenses first-aid kit makers because it is trying to encourage Americans to be prepared for disasters, and that it reinvests the revenues from its products in humanitarian work. The American Red Cross allegedly struck a deal with J&J in 1895, 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". Seeking to avoid a colossal public relations disaster in suing a high-profile charity, J&J has declared that it has "great respect for the relief work of the American Red Cross and over the decades has consistently supported the organisation through cash donations, product donations and employee volunteering".
The IPKat fails to see how this course of action will prevent a public relations catastrophe: it's a bit like the hunters saying how much they enjoy wildlife and support respect nature before shooting Bambi's mother. Merpel adds, wouldn't the best solution be for the Red Cross to change its name and logo, getting away from the religious sectarianism of cross and crescent: how about the Red Pretzel?Public relations disasters here
Red Pretzel recipe here
