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Jul 28, 2008read the 12 comments

Red Cross logo

The emblem of a red cross with arms of equal length on a white background is the visible sign of protection under the 1949 Geneva Conventions. As such, it is the emblem of the armed forces’ medical services.

In order to avoid ‘semantic noise’, the International Red Cross uses the Red Crescent name and trademark in some Arab World countries—with a predominantly Muslim population.

Origin of the emblems

The Red Cross emblem is an inversion of the Swiss flag, which shows a white cross on a red background. This recognises the historic connection between Switzerland and the original Geneva Convention of 1864.

But while the Red Cross emblem has no intentional religious meaning, the symbol reminded soldiers from the Ottoman Empire (modern-day Turkey) of the crusaders of the Middle Ages and so in 1876 they began using a Red Crescent instead.

Johnson & Johnson sue Red Cross over logo

In 2007, Johnson & Johnson sued the Red Cross over their logo.

“Johnson & Johnson began using the red cross design as a trademark in 1887—some years after the creation of the American Red Cross but before it received its congressional charter in 1900. The lawsuit contends that the charter did not empower the Red Cross to engage in commercial activities competing with a private business.”

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12 appreciated comments, click here to add one

Daniel Campos

Very very good post!!!
I’ll post it in my Brazilian blog.

After I come back and set link here!

Regards
Daniel

Jul 28th, 2008
LaurenMarie - Creative Curio

Oh wow, I didn’t know that the red crescent is used in Muslim countries. You always teach me something new, David! Thanks!

LaurenMarie – Creative Curio’s last blog post…My Adventures in Letterpress Continued

Jul 29th, 2008
David Airey

Hi Daniel, Lauren,

Glad you liked the post. There’s also a third emblem used by the Red Cross:

An additional protective emblem – the red crystal – was established in 2005. It has equal status and meaning to the red cross and red crescent emblems.

Jul 29th, 2008
Kelly

David,

I heard about this when it happened. It’s utterly silly. Normally I’d think yeah, protect it, but they’ve lived side-by-side for a very long time. Johnson & Johnson has made themselves sound like petty bullies on this.

Regards,

Kelly

Jul 29th, 2008
Rafie

I like this post. I remember when I was the president of the Red Crescent Society (similar like Red Cross) when I was 12 years old.

Regarding the crescent as symbol of Islam (during Ottoman Empire), maybe you would like to check out my Islamic Arts Club blog about it.

Moon and star – A symbol of Islam?

I hope you don’t mind I’m posting this link.

Cheers David

Jul 29th, 2008
David Airey

Kelly,

That’s what I thought when I first heard the headline, what with people associating the Red Cross with non-profit activities. I think it all came about when they started actually selling good, which changes things, but I don’t know too much about it.

Rafie,

I don’t mind you posting a link, not at all. I visited your ISAC blog, and you might want to fix the ‘about us’ link in the footer. There’s a missing slash which breaks it.

Aug 1st, 2008
Vijay Tamang

I wonder what the red color used in red cross logo really means. Can anybody tell me that? Would be great.

Nov 29th, 2010
Kate

So nothing about the protection of the emblem under the Geneva Convention, and the rules regarding its use? This is perhaps the most important fact, and one people fail to recognise or respect.

Mar 17th, 2012