Quote:
Originally Posted by Reaper
The Royal Canadian Legion owns the copyright to the poppy. Unfortunately, in this day and age, if a copyright is not defended it becomes hard to defend in future cases. Yes, it is a slippery slope but it does need to be observed.
The Knitters of New Brunswick (sounds like a great name for a band) had good intentions but they should have approached the Legion first. They may have been able to get a partnership going. In this case it is easier to ask for permission than it is to ask for forgiveness.
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Couldn't they just give them written permission to use it after they discover the fact? Similar to them forcing that motorcycle group of veterans to stop using that white poppy they all had on their helmets. Not everyone knows and understands copyright law (and I would imagine those ladies knitting the poppies also had no knowledge of copyright law, especially in this case, and just thought they were doing a nice thing), so why not, on the discovery of the use and realizing it's not being used for commercial reasons (they forced a bakery to stop making poppy cookies for a a family of a soldier that died in Afghanistan, so even this seems at times a bit much), just write something up giving permission? That doesn't weaken copyright claim as well, does it? If not, there's no need for the strong-arm tactics, but I'm not a lawyer.
The Legion talks about the poppy being a symbol of remembrance, but in actuality, with the way they enforce their copyright, they're behaving like it's nothing but a symbol of the Legion.