Legal Use of Red Cross Symbol
The practice of Red Cross stamps consisting of the words “Red Cross” or “Geneva Cross” or a red cross device or a very similar colour will not be accepted for registration – but black and white applications containing the device of a cross or crescent moon or a lion and a sun will not be contested. International Red Cross organizations and their duly authorized personnel shall at any time be authorized to use the Red Cross emblem on a white background. “If the red cross emblem or similar signs are used for other purposes, no matter how beneficial or inconsequential they may seem, the special meaning of the emblem is diminished,” reads an email to the game`s developers. “The Red Cross emblem or similar designs are not general signs for ambulances, health care, first aid, nursing or medical professions or similar matters. In addition, they are not signs that can be used for commercial purposes such as advertising campaigns or on products. As a symbol of protection, they are used in armed conflicts to identify people and property (buildings, vehicles, etc.) operating in accordance with the rules of the Geneva Conventions. As such, they can also be used by organizations and objects that are not part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, such as medical services of the armed forces, civilian hospitals and civil protection units. As symbols of protection, these emblems must be used without additional indication (textual or otherwise) and in a visible manner that makes them as visible and observable as possible, for example by using large white flags with the symbol. Four of these symbols, namely the Red Cross, Red Crescent, Red Lion with Sun and Red Crystal, are defined in the Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols as symbols of the use of protection. In the Third Protocol, the new symbol is called “the emblem of the Third Protocol”. [6] The rules for the use of this symbol, based on the Third Additional Protocol to the Geneva Conventions, are as follows: With regard to paragraphs 2 and 3: a distinction must be made between indicative use, which shows that a person or object is associated with society, where strict design is essential, and indicative use for the purpose of promoting national society and movement.
In this case, a freer design is allowed if it does not prejudice the prestige of the emblem. In the latter case, it is for the National Society to decide, in accordance with national legislation and context, whether it is possible or desirable to authorize such use. The freer design may consist, for example, of a red cross dotted with gold, a crescent moon with graduated red tones, a cut-out cross or an emblem with a pattern. The company cannot affix such a design to the buildings it uses or to its letterhead, as these are typical indicative use cases. A notable exception is the United States, where, although the United States first ratified the Geneva Conventions in 1882, no legislation was passed for 18 years to enact treaty obligations to protect the Red Cross symbol. (b) the sign “hospital” (E, 12b) consisting of a red cross or a red crescent moon on a blue background with a white bed. As this is an abuse of the emblem, the National Society asks the authorities to use only the other sign “hospital” (E, 12a). This symbol is also provided for in these agreements and consists of the letter H in white on a blue background. This article deals with the use of the logo or symbol and emblems of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and related law in India. Green crosses on a white background are generic for pharmacies and medical goods and services.
The use of emblems such as trademarks is not permitted. White crosses on a green background are generic for first aid goods and services and are based on European Union legislation that establishes a white cross on a green background as a sign of first aid. With respect to marks that generally consist of a cross-device, the applicant must satisfy the condition not to use the crossed device in red or similar color or in the manner prohibited by the 1960 Geneva Convention. One of the objectives of the 1991 revision of the regulations was to enable domestic enterprises to diversify and expand their sources of income, without prejudice to due respect for the emblem and the name of the Red Cross or Red Crescent. The red cross symbolizes the identifier of medical personnel in times of war. The Red Cross is defined as a symbol of protection in Article 7 of the Geneva Convention of 1864, Chapter VII (“The Distinctive Emblem”) and Article 38 of the Geneva Convention of 1949 (“To improve the condition of the wounded and sick in armed forces in the field”). There is an unofficial agreement within the Red Cross and Red Crescent movement that the shape of the cross should be a cross consisting of five squares. [2] Whatever the form, however, any red cross should be valid on a white background and must be recognized as a symbol of protection in case of conflict. Of the 190 National Societies currently recognized by the ICRC, 154 use the Red Cross as their official organizational emblem. The symbols described below have two distinct meanings.
On the one hand, the visual symbols of the Red Cross, Red Crescent, Red Lion with Sun and Red Crystal serve as protective signs in armed conflicts, a designation derived and defined by the Geneva Conventions. This is called the protective use of symbols. On the other hand, these symbols are used as distinctive logos by organizations that are part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. This is the indicative use of emblems, meaning defined in the Statutes of the International Movement and partly in the Third Additional Protocol. The movement works together to protect these emblems from abuse and abuse. It is important that they are unchallenged at all times as symbols of neutral and independent aid and that they guarantee protection in times of conflict and disaster. The indicative emblem must be accompanied by the name or initials of the National Society. It must not be a drawing or writing on the cross or crescent, which must always be the dominant element of the emblem. The soil should always be white. When used as an organization logo, these symbols only indicate that the persons, vehicles, buildings, etc.
bearing the symbols belong to a specific organization that is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (such as the ICRC, the International Federation or National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies). In this case, they must be used with an additional indication (for example, “American Red Cross”) and must not be displayed as clearly as when used as symbols of protection. Three of these symbols, namely the Red Cross, Red Crescent and Red Crystal, can be used by National Societies for indicative purposes in their home countries or abroad. In addition, the Red Shield of David may be used by the Israeli company Magen David Adom for indicative purposes in Israel and, subject to the consent of the respective host country, in combination with the Red Crystal when working abroad. Green crosses on a white background are generic for pharmacies and medical goods and services.