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Johnson & Johnson sues the American Red Cross

Posted on Aug 9th 2007 1:01PM by Rigel Celeste

Filed Under: Diet & Weight Loss, Celebs & Entertainment

Johnson & Johnson has filed a lawsuit against the American Red Cross over use of the famous "red cross" symbol they have both shared for the last 100 years or so. Why the sudden change of heart? Apparently the Red Cross has started selling products at retail establishments (things like medical gloves, humidifiers, nail clippers, bandaids, toothbrushes, etc) and so suddenly the two companies are competing in an area they hadn't before. In the lawsuit J&J says they've been using the red cross symbol since 1887, well before the American Red Cross came into existence, on products of a similar and directly competing nature. They essentially want the Red Cross to cease and desist, and hand over all profits they've made so far.

I have to side with J&J on this one, if simply because they did have the symbol first. But can't we all just get along? Isn't there a happy medium where both companies can get what they want?

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7 Comment

Tags: American Red Cross, AmericanRedCross, Johnson, Johnson and Johnson, JohnsonAndJohnson, Red Cross, RedCross

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Chris A 8-09-2007 @ 1:30PM

Yeah I am with you. If J&J had it first, tough luck Red Cross. The Red Cross should stick with it's original purpose and get out of the retail biz.

James 8-09-2007 @ 4:53PM

hasn't the red cross symbol come to be known for doctors or medical supplies? Seems to me when I see a red cross I think doctor or something, I don't even think of Johnson & Johnson at all.

It's not exactly the Nike Swoosh, where that means "Nike" to anyone that sees it. it's pretty ambiguous

Martha 8-09-2007 @ 5:30PM

Really? I don't agree .. Johnson and Johnson doesn't seem to use the red cross symbol in their marketing -- they use that swirly J & J symbol for every product I've ever bought from them anyway. So to me, it seems like they're acting like a toddler, claiming it as their own because they had it first, even though they don't use it. Plus when I see a Red Cross I think 'Doctor', not 'baby shampoo', and so does half the world. It's a universally recognized symbol for medical assistance, so I think they should be allowed to keep it.

Chris A 8-09-2007 @ 5:57PM

If it was their logo first, they should have the right to use it or not use it as they wish, regardless of how the public feels it is associated with the brand.
The Red Cross should at least have to stop using it in a retail environment where it is actually competing with J&J IMO.

FRiC 8-09-2007 @ 9:05PM

J&J always had first aid products with the red cross logo, but since the logo is always associated with medication, I never thought that J&J actually owns the logo. They have a website at www.jnjfirstaid.com

Greg Stroud 8-12-2007 @ 2:46AM

The Red Cross symbol actually was originally used by Clara Barton, founder of the Red Cross movement and the American Red Cross in 1881, prior to the creation of Johnson and Johnson in 1886. The symbol is actually "stolen" from the Swiss flag and is a reversal of the color scheme of that flag. Clara Barton designed the emblem out of respect for Switzerland's long stance on neutrality during war-- a belief she shared when she began the relief mission of the Red Cross during the Civil War. She allowed J&J to use the symbol. I could understand J&J's position if somehow the American Red Cross was creating an economic hardship or great loss of revenue, but this is simply not the case. Besides Congress recognized the ARC's right to use the symbol in the futherance of its mission BY STATUTE. I think this is extremely bad PR on the part of J&J even if they outspend the Red Cross into legal defeat.

Liam Jackson 8-14-2007 @ 1:42AM

The red cross symbol is asociated with lots of services and products (usually first aid stations, first aid kits, etc...) but it's also a Johnson and Johnson registered trademark. There wasn't any problem with the emblem until the Red Cross decided to get into the retail business.

Johnson and Johnson has a very strong case.