Does the Red Cross issue apply to us?

[BlueFireZ88]

I'm sure everyone here knows about the situation with the Red Cross and how they went after the games industry for using their logo (even though the industry's been using it for well over 2 to 3 decades and that they only recently started reinforcing their trademark as of a few years ago).

The most obvious effect of this is Id changing the cross on medipacks to pills in the recent re-releases of the classic Doom games (notably BFG Edition).

But really, does that affect us, the Doom Community, at all? Does that stop us from using the cross symbol in our mods? I'm sure that there are those who wouldn't use it out of respect, but beyond that, is there anything stopping us?

[Project Shadowcat]

I took the simple precaution of changing the cross to blue, as I had no idea at the time what other symbol I could use.
The point being it never hurts to take that precaution, moreso as a sign of respect to the Red Cross.

[SFJake]

Is this a joke?

People "can't use the red cross"? So basically, I can't make a red +. Are there any numbers or individual letters that I can't use, as well? Might as well patent the alphabet.

Sure as hell wouldn't bow down to that in a -mod-.

[TerminusEst13]

Technically speaking, I suppose it does affect us.

That being said, the amount of care the average gamer has for the situation and the lax attention the Red Cross has been giving to enforcing it makes it a non-issue.

[Gez]

Is this a joke?

People "can't use the red cross"? So basically, I can't make a red +. Are there any numbers or individual letters that I can't use, as well? Might as well patent the alphabet.

Sure as hell wouldn't bow down to that in a -mod-.

The Red Crescent is protected too, so no red opening parentheses.

[President People]

Funny how a red cross in games has generally stood for healing, life replenishment, and even life itself. Practically advertising for the Red Cross!

That doesn't seem to be what they want, though?

[Ed the Bat]

Can I still use the Red Lion and Sun!? =D
Reference for those who aren't aware. =P

[edward850]

Funny how a red cross in games has generally stood for healing, life replenishment, and even life itself. Practically advertising for the Red Cross!

That doesn't seem to be what they want, though?

"Advertising" isn't the issue here. The issue is that the symbol is a protected symbol under the Geneva Conventions.

[Ed the Bat]

In all seriousness, I actually had been thinking about a possible icon to use for my medical supplies. I didn't want one that had any official or religious affiliations. Honestly, I'm pretty close to just going with the words "First Aid". That gets the message across, right?

[SFJake]

Other than a differently colored cross, is it considered the same thing if you add details to the cross? Special details inside it, or an empty cross, or details around it.

You can make the entire first aid red and the cross white to keep with the coloring.

Other than that, the only thing that would obviously makes me think of healing, is a heart icon.

[Ed the Bat]

heart icon.

I'm a little shy about using that one, since it can also mean something romantic. Was this a box of painkillers and bandages, or Valentine's chocolates? =3

[leileilol]

Just Cause 2 had to use a green cross with the edges slanted.


For OA (in the current SVN) I have to use a green diamond.


Hearts are fine. Serious Sam and Zelda got by with that okay.

[scalliano]

Given that, for the most part, the versions of Doom that people are modding for here already have the Red Cross symbol, I'd say it's a moot point.

[leileilol]

If there's a health pack replacement or anything that used the cross before, i'd respect their wishes and pills-erize it.

[Matt]

14 January 2008:
Removed the red crosses from the health powerups. The new symbols are a lightning bolt for the stim, a caduceus for the medikit, and a biohazard sign for the berserk pack.

As far as I'm aware (and I am not giving anyone here any legal advice about any specific situation with this), as long as there's no room for confusion then you can't say you're infringing a trademark. (Meanwhile, trying to confirm that the Red Cross was basing their complaint on trademarks I ended up finding this.)