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Just got a very perplexing image rejection:

Your image has been rejected
Reason: Red Cross requested us to delete all images with "red cross" signs

From my Google research:

"The red cross on a background of white is an international symbol of humanity and the use of this emblem is spelled out in international treaty and restricted by U.S. law. In accordance with International and federal law, the use of the name and emblem of the Red Cross in the United States is limited except for certain pre-1905 users - to the medical departments and to the American Red Cross"

As you can see from the attached image, the “red crosses” were not on a white background so should not have been rejected . . . . . . .  unless all red crosses are copyrighted, which is absurd.  Or am I wrong . . . . . . . .

IMO they were right to reject it. Just change the red to green if the image means that much to you.

That's my point, there is a lot of historical imagery that contains a red cross (with and without a white background) . . . . .  for example . . . religious (crusades) . . . . .  although in my image there was a conceptual use of the symbol.

I realize that the image is not that successful but was just curious about the reason for the rejection.

I'm sure they'll always err on the side of caution.

That's what I was led to believe (since primary school days, and it was also in a textbook I used when teaching), but that wikipedia article suggests that wasn't so. I don't have time to check it out right now, though.

I think it's to prevent people from shooting at things with a red cross on it.  As the thing with a red cross on it is generally a humanitarian worker, they're mightily sensible in banning everyone from making commercial artwork out of it.

The same rules apply for the red crescent I guess...

My 2 cents:

I've take a photo of a portuguese red cross ambulance, and send it to all agencys ( high,middle and lower's ):

- Some refuse because red cross ( for them I sent new version without red cross )
- One agency refuse because mercedes symbol on wheels ( LOL it is same agency that refuse one photo because a red line on an excavator ), but they don't mentioned nothing about red cross
- Some accepted the phot "as is".

So, dependes a bit of each agency.

For my "safety", and having a second version without "logos", I replace it.

So first aid kits can not use the red cross?

I think it is a silly claim in the end, the image in question doesn't remind us of THE Red Cross, it only connects us to some sort of medical emergency staff.

Thanks for all your info on this Sue.

It does explain why, at some point, most of the first aid boxes on the market became white crosses on green (when they'd traditionally been red crosses on white).

From your last link, it looks as though the Red Cross still have some message-spreading to do.