Johnson & Johnson sues Red Cross for trademark infringement News
Johnson & Johnson sues Red Cross for trademark infringement

[JURIST] Johnson & Johnson (J&J) [corporate website] filed a civil lawsuit Wednesday against the American Red Cross (ARC) [organization website] alleging that the ARC has been improperly licensing the red cross symbol [J&J press release] for commercial purposes. ARC President and CEO Mark W. Everson called the lawsuit "obscene" [ARC press release].

Johnson & Johnson, which has used the red cross emblem since 1887 and maintains it has the exclusive commercial rights to use the trademark on commercial products, reached an agreement to allow the ARC use of the red cross symbol in 1895. The ARC has licensed the use of the red cross symbol to several businesses for marketing on health products and safety kits. BBC News has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

International Day Against Fascism and Anti-Semitism

November 9 is the International Day Against Fascism and Anti-Semitism [UNITED factsheet]. On November 9, 1924, American gay activist Henry Gerber and several associates formed the Society for Human Rights, the first gay rights organization in the United States. The Society received a charter from the State of Illinois in December but was disbanded in July 1925 after a police raid which led to Gerber's arrest and trial (albeit not conviction). Pay a virtual visit to Henry Gerber House, now a registered Chicago landmark.

Supreme Court strikes down Massachusetts anti-draft law

On November 9, 1970, the Supreme Court voted 6-3 in Massachusetts v. Laird not to hear the case of the state's anti-draft law. Massachusetts had passed a law, which allowed its citizens to decline to fight in any undeclared war, even if the person was drafted. The law was passed in opposition to the draft and the war in Vietnam. The First Circuit found the war constitutional and thus struck down the law.