The 'red cross' doesn't mean "THE RED CROSS" in the military it technically denotes a mobile or temporary hospital, they use different logos for different areas, in saudi it's the star/moon combo.. afaik, we never had anyone from red cross in our hospital and use that logo when I was on active duty.
This is really nothing new. When I was at id, we ran into the exact same issue (American Red Cross in this case. if I remember). We had to or chose to change the color of the cross inside the Q3A health bubbles to colors OTHER than red. I'm surprised that Blue Cross health insurance didn't come after us also, or whatever organization represents Pharmacies in France (and maybe all of Europe), because I seem to remember that they use a green cross as their symbol.
I suspect that if this issue were to go to court, game companies could defend the use of the red cross as being something that has lost its right to exclusivity as a trade or service mark due to it's common use in society as a universal symbol indicating health care. The Red Cross agencies would likely need to show that they have a history of diligence in defending the use of their mark against similar useage in media other than games.
EDIT: I did a quick image search and found that most instances of the red cross were for the Agencies of that name. However, I did find that same proportional cross used differently in a number of healthcare logos and it is the standard symbol for the Medic in the American Military (or was). I think they will still have issues if they choose to prosecute ... the cross with those proportions (if not that color) is definately tied to the concept of health care.
During Fightbox I was making the arena pickups, and the Fightbox people said they wanted something new for all the pickups. For health, I made a Caduceus staff. It looked great.
Then they made me change it to a cross because they didn't think it was obvious enough.
Well shit, without video games I wouldnt even know wtf that symbol meant... If they take out this symbol from games, than in 15 years when we're in some other war, none of the kids are gonna know where to go and get health kits from...
I welcome the red cross to ask me to translate this in Japanese to stop Japanese games companies, doctors and pharmacies from using this highly exclusive corporate symbol of the 21st century.
To which I will translate to "we're a bunch of time wasting cunts"
PJ, did you guys not consider contesting them? I mean, it's health for christs sake! Actually, while playing quake3 I never noticed what colour the health pickup was, so good job!
As a content provider myself, I feel the red cross has a right to protect their intellectual property, which consists of a single peculiarly colored mathematical symbol. In light of this request by the red cross, I have created a variant symbol similar, yet distinguishably different from that of the red cross, feel free to use it, if there are requests, I shall upload a PSD path file so you may use it in your games at any conceivable resolution. In fact, I recommend using it for box-art.
I'm sorry but your lines are too close together and somewhat resemble the twin towers, we have found that offensive and I formally request that you rotate one of the lines at a 45 degree angle
on a slightly related note, there's a Magic (the gathering) card called "Combat Medic" ( http://www.cardshark.com/images_magic/01972.jpg ) that I honestly find to be a really cool alternative to the standard cross.
I think it'd be more interesting to see diffrent graphics for healing anyway, using the cross is sort of being lazy anyway. But the next time they come asking for hand outs... well you should give anyway.
"...gone after us".
Who's us? Americans? No, no it can't be. That article doesn't mention American's or the United States anywhere. Hmm..
So, by us you mean... the gaming industry? I mean this is Polycount after all so it must be the industry you're speaking of. So, every country that contributes TO that industry is "us" then? Including Canada? CANADA isn't going after anyone. The Canadian section of a GLOBAL organization is raising stink over something slightly trivial.
Hilarious! Canada! No sorry, KANEDA!!!1one Goooo polar bears!
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on a slightly related note, there's a Magic (the gathering) card called "Combat Medic" ( http://www.cardshark.com/images_magic/01972.jpg ) that I honestly find to be a really cool alternative to the standard cross.
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that looks more like a scaffolding flange!
I always though that the helix thingie was the sign for healing?
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It's very convinient to go after the new medium but I can't recall a single realistic war movie that didn't use the cross.
I suspect that if this issue were to go to court, game companies could defend the use of the red cross as being something that has lost its right to exclusivity as a trade or service mark due to it's common use in society as a universal symbol indicating health care. The Red Cross agencies would likely need to show that they have a history of diligence in defending the use of their mark against similar useage in media other than games.
EDIT: I did a quick image search and found that most instances of the red cross were for the Agencies of that name. However, I did find that same proportional cross used differently in a number of healthcare logos and it is the standard symbol for the Medic in the American Military (or was). I think they will still have issues if they choose to prosecute ... the cross with those proportions (if not that color) is definately tied to the concept of health care.
Then they made me change it to a cross because they didn't think it was obvious enough.
You'd think the Canadian Red Cross would have bigger fish to fry, like ...keeping AIDS out of the blood supply.
Just sayn'
The Swiss feel.... neutral
To which I will translate to "we're a bunch of time wasting cunts"
PJ, did you guys not consider contesting them? I mean, it's health for christs sake! Actually, while playing quake3 I never noticed what colour the health pickup was, so good job!
Who's us? Americans? No, no it can't be. That article doesn't mention American's or the United States anywhere. Hmm..
So, by us you mean... the gaming industry? I mean this is Polycount after all so it must be the industry you're speaking of. So, every country that contributes TO that industry is "us" then? Including Canada? CANADA isn't going after anyone. The Canadian section of a GLOBAL organization is raising stink over something slightly trivial.
Hilarious! Canada! No sorry, KANEDA!!!1one Goooo polar bears!
on a slightly related note, there's a Magic (the gathering) card called "Combat Medic" ( http://www.cardshark.com/images_magic/01972.jpg ) that I honestly find to be a really cool alternative to the standard cross.
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that looks more like a scaffolding flange!
I always though that the helix thingie was the sign for healing?
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Be careful. Don't want to offend Satan.