Note that this isn't normal copyright, the red cross is protected under the Geneva Conventions
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emblems_of_the_International_R...
A green cross would confuse people.
But I also spent a lot of my youth in France, where it means exactly that.
But tv, movies, games, etc, just showing an accurate representation of real life, within the media itself seems...normal.
I think if they have to, the least confusing thing would be a red square with a white cross inside it. That's what a lot of first aid kits seem to do. Though perhaps the Swiss wouldn't be thrilled. Maybe a white cross in a red circle?
The red cross had issues in the past with the symbols. Muslims didn't wanted to be treated for them (seeing the cross as a symbol for christians), so they needed to create the 'Red crescent' symbol exclusively for Muslims. But then jews, hindi and asians felt excluded also, so a third symbol was necessary, the red crystal, that aim to represent humanitary work without being assimilated to one of the bands in conflict. The red crystal is used in delicate cases to not upset anybody.
The red cross should be named now the red crystal, to hide that it was created in an European context, by a christian, and also that is just the Switzerland flag with inverted colors (he was from Geneva).
Is a good example of how politics and ideology can spoil anything.
Where do you get this confidence that there's no confusion with the green cross?
The continents of Europe, Africa, Australia... I've also seen it used in China but I'm not as familiar with Asia because I haven't lived there.
I'm sorry, but if your only example is the US then you're likely to be wrong about a lot of things.
This is actually a completely inappropriate scenario. The point of the Red Cross symbol is that it indicates an internationally neutral organization that is very specifically not associated with any country.
Army medics != Red cross, and that's a big difference.
If a red cross is taken to mean just army medics, they might be considered to be "just" the enemy's medics, a "legitimate" target for some, unlike the Red Cross who are neutral and help everyone.
In real life, the symbol is pretty strictly limited to a specific international organization well-known for their neutrality in armed conflict. Portraying it as just meaning 'healing' takes away from the power of that neutrality.
It's not though. Lots of military ambulances, from many countries, not associated with the Red Cross, have a red cross on them.
One example, there are many more: https://www.google.com/search?q=british+military+ambulance&t...
"Under the Geneva Conventions, the three distinctive emblems of the red cross, red crescent and red crystal are intended to identify and protect medical and relief workers, military and civilian medical facilities, mobile units and hospital ships during armed conflict."
https://www.redcross.org/content/dam/redcross/atg/PDF_s/Inte... (PDF)
Edit: Perhaps I misunderstood. I thought the Red Cross was complaining about military ambulances, hospital ships, and so on, depicted in games. In addition to less realistic uses.
I suspect the red cross would not take issue with a game using the red cross to depict untargatable aid workers.
You already acknowledge this elsewhere, and you've also already acknowledged that there's special meaning to the red cross as opposed to merely referring to pharmacies.
I don't know what you're doing excluding Asia or the USA either, while saying
> A green cross would confuse no one.
And then following up with
> I'm sorry, but if your only example is the US then you're likely to be wrong about a lot of things.
That is uncalled for.
I didn't exclude Asia, I stated that my experience there is more limited than the continents I listed. The US isn't a reliable authority on any international standards.
If you started up a new video game and the health packs had green crosses instead of red ones, would you be confused?
Oy.
And, FWIW, those first aid kits in big green plastic boxes are mostly used by regular soldiers. The medics have different kits in backpack looking containers called an M-9.
I've literally used them when developing a video game before, and that's what I was thinking as I implemented them.
I've also used the red cross when making a game before without even thinking about a possible trademark or protection, it was already a generic symbol to me. Come to think of it, I just used it again in the art for a board game I was making. I guess I should change it, but I'm not sure to what (I guess a green cross?).
