Red Cross sued over . . . red cross

The Johnson & Johnson red cross, that is.  Seems that the Red Cross (organization) doesn’t own the red cross (logo).  Johnson & Johnson does.  All well and good, except the Red Cross (organization) has been selling rights to the red cross (logo) to other health care product manufacturerers.

Johnson & Johnson doesn’t like that.  One little bit.  So, of course . . . LAWSUIT!

From the Wall Street Journal article[*1] (subscription required, fair use excerpt below):

J&J said it has been using the symbol of a Greek red cross since 1887, predating the chartering of the Red Cross. J&J trademarked the design — two intersecting red lines of equal length — at least as early as 1906, the suit says.

According to J&J, the Red Cross only has the right to use the trademark in connection with nonprofit relief services. J&J says in 1905, Congress prohibited “the emblem of the Greek red cross on a white ground” by organizations other than the Red Cross; J&J’s suit says since it used the cross before that date, it was exempt.