Red Cross wants the gaming industry to stop using its symbol

[DirtySouth]

According to Game Industry the Red Cross wants to put a stop to game developers using its image in videogames. Right now no legal action has been taken to prevent its use, only a request has been issued. The Red Cross is an almost universal symbol in games, mainly used as a icon to be picked up for regenerating the player's health, and there are tons of games that use the symbol.

"We would be willing to work with a videogame manufacturer to produce a game which shows the emblem in its correct use, as a symbol of protection during armed conflict, and where the player is rewarded for using the emblem correctly. Such a game could reward the player for respecting the rules of war and thereby, help the Red Cross Movement with its work to promote such respect,"

I guess what that means is up for interpretation.

[dog$]

I'll be sure to xerox this and send it to my colleagues once I'm done crying in my kleenex.

[Jeremy]

I'll drink a coke to that.

[Gymkata]

.......there are no words..

[kingoffighters]

I am shooting the next medic in any WW2 game I play.

[sethsez]

The Red Cross is only issuing a request because they don't actually own the rights to the Red Cross symbol. Johnson & Johnson does.

[Diff-chan]

If any symbol, any symbol whatsoever, belongs in the public domain, its the fucking red cross. Unbelievable.

[AaronChance]

If any symbol, any symbol whatsoever, belongs in the public domain, its the fucking red cross. Unbelievable.

Jesus died so we could copyright that symbol!

[gamevet]

Jesus died so we could copyright that symbol!

The Red Cross is more like a red +.

[avatar]

I can understand the argument. The red cross is meant to be a sign of aid or neautrality. Most (if not all) use it in a completely wrong context.