[Hague-jur-commercial-law] Greenpeace ordered to stop using doctored logo by French court

[Manon Ress]

http://www.out-law.com/php/page.php3?page_id=greenpeaceorderedt1026215584

Greenpeace ordered to stop using doctored logo
09/07/2002

A French court on Monday ordered the environmental group Greenpeace to
remove from a protest web site a doctored version of Esso’s logo, which
replaced the middle letters with two dollar signs. The logo was part of
a campaign accusing Esso brand owner Exxon of sabotaging efforts to
prevent global warming.

The judge ordered Greenpeace to cease using the manipulated logo pending
a full hearing. Greenpeace was given four working days to remove the
logo from the StopEsso web site. If it fails to comply with the order,
it will face fines of €5,000 (£3,000) for each day that the logo
remains. 

The US oil giant claimed that Greenpeace was attempting to associate its
Esso brand with the Nazi SS. Exxon demanded €80,000 per day for damage
to its reputation and a further €80,000 per day should Greenpeace fail
to comply. It was also seeking to have the French version of the
StopEsso site shutdown. 

Greenpeace claimed that the logo was used to “show that for this
multinational, profits go before the planet and future generations”. It
said that the decision “shows how a massive oil company will resort to
using its power and wealth to halt criticism”, and that Exxon “should
concentrate on changing its policy on climate changes rather than
shooting the messenger.” 

The environmental group also said that the campaign would continue and
that it would appeal against the decision.

A spokeswoman for Esso France said that the company was very pleased
with the decision, and added: “We uphold the right of Greenpeace to have
freedom of expression but we were not willing to put up with the misuse
of the company logo.”

Exxon claims that it is taking measures to address the issue of global
warming, and it recently published a report on its corporate social
responsibility.

See also: Greenpeace sued for Esso logo abuse, OUT-LAW News, 27/06/2002



-- 
Manon Anne Ress
Essential Information
www.essential.org
PO Box 19405, Washington, DC 20036
mress@essential.org, voice: 1.202.387.8030, fax: 1.202.234.5176