I had no idea about any of this, but it seems that over in the Land of the Lawyer, sorry, Land of the Free, Johnson and Johnson are suing the Red Cross over infringements in the use of its logo.

So the story goes, J&J used the red-cross-on-a-white-background logo for seven years before the US Red Cross was recognised by Congress.  They donated the logo on the understanding that it would only be used for charitable purposes.  Well, now that the US Red Cross are licensing the logo for use on various medical products.

Anyone with the slightest knowledge of history outside the US knows that the ensuing debate about this lawsuit is bunk.

The International Red Cross (and last time I looked, the US had an international presence) was formed in 1863 and the logo was simply a reversal of the flag of the founder nation, the Swiss flag being a white-cross-on-a-red-background.

Seth Godin argues that J&J are good corporate citizens in donating the (clearly stolen) logo in the first place.  I would argue against that.  But, as every good American knows, the world starts on the coast of Maine and ends on the western tip of Alaska.  Common sense will no doubt be refused entry into the courthouse when this comes up.  Big Pharma has never been the best corporate citizen, however it does control a significant lobby group in global politics.