Former Lancastrian

Did you realize that the Poppy that many of us will be wearing or have been wearing over the last few days is trademarked in Both Canada and the UK by the Royal Canadian/British Legion.
Now over the past couple of days a couple of articles especially one has brought attention and not in a good way about the use of the Poppy symbol. A Tim Hortons outlet in Calgary was selling a poppy donut which caused quite a bit of a stir.
The second one just seems to have been an oversight by the people involved i.e. Telus and the Wounded Warriors Of Canada.
Legion commandeers Wounded Warriors Canada fundraising campaign over use of poppy - Calgary - CBC News

On June 30, 1948, on behalf of the people of Canada, the Legion was given the responsibility to safeguard the Poppy as a sacred symbol of Remembrance, a symbol of the sacrifice of our Veterans. The Legion ensures that the Poppy is not used for commercial or personal gain, and that it be protected from inappropriate use. It is for these reasons that the Legion requires permission for the use of the trademark Poppy, or the Poppy image as it relates to Remembrance.
What is required to request use of the Poppy:

Contact information for the individual or organization making the request
A description of how and where the Poppy will be used or displayed (attach a draft design of image placement or size, if applicable)
An explanation of why the Poppy usage is requested
An indication of what period of time the Poppy will be used or displayed
A disclosure, if intended for use on a product, of the selling cost of the item and a projection of the expected profit to be made
An indication of where the profit, if any, will be directed, whether to an organization, charity or manufacturer

So it seems if you wish to use the Poppy symbol you need permission to do so and it cannot be used for political, partisan, sectarian or commercial purposes.

The Tim Hortons one was a No No for me but the Telus/Wounded Warriors Of Canada is a bit OTT from the Royal Canadian Legion.
If the money is going to vets and families or programmes for them I have no problem with and perhaps the Legion should acknowledge this rather than using the law regarding the trademark.

jerryhung

Agree with you FL. I saw some recent press the the Legion donated a lot of money to a sporting event with Prince Harry.

It's an odd thing to lay claim to such a symbol in the first place, and the utilization of that power is also odd, but (hands up)

Siouxie

The Invictus Games, I believe.

Canadian legion under fire for donating poppy funds to sports event for veterans | National Post

Will_PA

Yeah but unless you police its image use it will appear on everything... it's easier to forbid everyone else from using it than have to vet everyone who comes along.

I'm a lot more relaxed about this than, say, the olympics, who take over a whole city then get antsy about local bakers making pretzels in olympics rings shape

Shard

This sums up the current state of play:

https://www.theguardian.com/commenti...s-culture-wars

This too:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-trending-41930507

caretaker

I think the Legion is hard up for cash (despite the half mill award to Invictus) and is afraid to set a precedent by relinquishing control of the image.

Former Lancastrian

I was a Legion member in Canada. Over a period of time things began to get tight for many Legions due to declining memberships and certain bits of infighting between branches.
Too many branches in certain cities and most branches are reluctant to amalgamate for a variety of reasons.
Some branches are owned but some lease locations. Do you really need 20 branches in a city like Winnipeg where perhaps 10 would suffice?
I have been at meeting where this was proposed but the usual I don't to amalgamate or have to go to that branch etc etc.
They do excellent work but some branches want them run like the Army and not always open to change.

bats

Am I not understanding this properly? How can you copyright images of poppies?

kimilseung

Did John McCrae give his permission to the Legions to use it, I wonder?

Former Lancastrian

Its not copyrighted its trademarked which is a difference.

Former Lancastrian

John McCrae wrote the poem which is not the same.

bats

Ok, how can you trademark images of poppies? Nobody else can paint, photograph, knit, crochet,embroider, sculpt poppies?

kimilseung

I assume it will only be if in connection with Remembrance.

Former Lancastrian

Elements included in the trademark

The Canadian trademark for the Poppy includes both the Legion’s Poppy logo, as well as the Poppy symbol, as it relates to Remembrance.The trademark does not apply to the use of the actual Poppy flower, unless that usage is misrepresented as the Legion’s Poppy.
The Poppy trademark

bats

Gotcha