Why The Red Crosses Were Removed (a legal answer)

[Mizerie]

I left a shorter version of this on the post for the latest update to the game, but it comes to mind that the reason Valentine actually got her crosses removed isn't very well-known. So if you can stomach reading a few paragraphs and some legal jargon, I'll explain why they replaced them.

It's illegal to use red crosses in media. No, I am not capping, taking the piss, or anything else. I am 100% deadass.

Here's why.

As per 18 U.S. Code § 706, established in freakin' 1948:

Whoever wears or displays the sign of the Red Cross or any insignia colored in imitation thereof for the fraudulent purpose of inducing the belief that he is a member of or an agent for the American National Red Cross; or

Whoever, whether a corporation, association or person, other than the American National Red Cross and its duly authorized employees and agents and the sanitary and hospital authorities of the armed forces of the United States, uses the emblem of the Greek red cross on a white ground, or any sign or insignia made or colored in imitation thereof or the words “Red Cross” or “Geneva Cross” or any combination of these words—

Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than six months, or both.

The 'red cross' symbol was established as the universal symbol of medical personnel in the very first Geneva Convention in 1863. Thus, using the symbol in a video game (or almost anywhere else) is breaking an international treaty. The problem is that this law is so obscure that it's almost completely unknown to the general public, and with tens of thousands of violations (or more) on the regular, the Red Cross can't go after every violation immediately. As a result. this legal nonsense ends up happening a hell of a lot later in a situation than you'd think, and keeping the shurikens in a color that is not red (or close to it, or held by palettes) is probably to keep away from potential accusations of using things that look like red crosses.

Hope that helps clear things up.

TL;DR: Valentine broke the Geneva Convention by using red crosses (palettes count). That's an international crime, so they changed her model.

[RGS]

Originally posted by Mirekek:

I left a shorter version of this on the post for the latest update to the game, but it comes to mind that the reason Valentine actually got her crosses removed isn't very well-known. So if you can stomach reading a few paragraphs and some legal jargon, I'll explain why they replaced them.

It's illegal to use red crosses in media. No, I am not capping, taking the piss, or anything else. I am 100% deadass.

Here's why.

As per 18 U.S. Code § 706, established in freakin' 1948:

Whoever wears or displays the sign of the Red Cross or any insignia colored in imitation thereof for the fraudulent purpose of inducing the belief that he is a member of or an agent for the American National Red Cross; or

Whoever, whether a corporation, association or person, other than the American National Red Cross and its duly authorized employees and agents and the sanitary and hospital authorities of the armed forces of the United States, uses the emblem of the Greek red cross on a white ground, or any sign or insignia made or colored in imitation thereof or the words “Red Cross” or “Geneva Cross” or any combination of these words—

Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than six months, or both.

The 'red cross' symbol was established as the universal symbol of medical personnel in the very first Geneva Convention in 1863. Thus, using the symbol in a video game (or almost anywhere else) is breaking an international treaty. The problem is that this law is so obscure that it's almost completely unknown to the general public, and with tens of thousands of violations (or more) on the regular, the Red Cross can't go after every violation immediately. As a result. this legal nonsense ends up happening a hell of a lot later in a situation than you'd think, and keeping the shurikens in a color that is not red (or close to it, or held by palettes) is probably to keep away from potential accusations of using things that look like red crosses.

Hope that helps clear things up.

TL;DR: Valentine broke the Geneva Convention by using red crosses (palettes count). That's an international crime, so they changed her model.

And I'll repeat myself once more, while the first change was indeed a legal problem.

The new one has absulutely nothing to with the Red Cross, not in a million years would they be sued for pink crosses.

[1.2M | Missingno.]

They obviously made this change for a reason. I'm sure they spoke to actual lawyers about this.

[Tyberos]

It's because the cross is often associated with Christian culture. The England flag is literally a red cross on a white background, the same as what was removed. The developers are using some stupid sensitivity editors to review their work, its really quite pathetic.

[Donko]

Originally posted by Missingno.:

They obviously made this change for a reason. I'm sure they spoke to actual lawyers about this.

It's the red cross. Although they sound very threatening, I'm pretty sure they don't mind the color of the cross as long as its not red.

[RGS]

Originally posted by Missingno.:

They obviously made this change for a reason. I'm sure they spoke to actual lawyers about this.

Yeah, I already gave the reason.

And no, they didn't talk to lawyers. Otherwise the lawyers would have shown all the examples that the Red Cross allowed.

[RGS]

Originally posted by Donko:

Originally posted by Missingno.:

They obviously made this change for a reason. I'm sure they spoke to actual lawyers about this.

It's the red cross. Although they sound very threatening, I'm pretty sure they don't mind the color of the cross as long as its not red.

That's really it.

What they specifically don't want is an actual red cross.

[Zernicco]

So there is a group known as “magenta shurikens” (or red, whatever) that will also process them?

[Tanoomba]

It seems like they're just taking precautionary measures to make extra-sure there aren't any legal grounds to be challenged. For instance, with shuriken instead of crosses they can apply any color palette to Valentine they want, even new ones, without worrying about accidentally coming too close to the Red Cross's trademark.

This honestly seems like a pretty silly thing to be outraged about.

[Zernicco]

It's amazing how many organizations there are today.

[RGS]

Originally posted by Tanoomba:

It seems like they're just taking precautionary measures to make extra-sure there aren't any legal grounds to be challenged. For instance, with shuriken instead of crosses they can apply any color palette to Valentine they want, even new ones, without worrying about accidentally coming too close to the Red Cross's trademark.

This honestly seems like a pretty silly thing to be outraged about.

It made the design considerably worse and I doubt that was the reason.

The devs need to be really paranoid to think that the red cross would come after them for a pink cross, and for the pallettes.
Just don't use red, it's not exactly hard, even more when the red cross is quite forgiving regarding lighter reds.

[RGS]

And it wouldn't make sense to keep them pink after the change of the shape, it would look slightly better if they were red.

At least with any of your reasoning.

[1.2M | Missingno.]

Are any of you guys actual lawyers?

[Donko]

Originally posted by Tanoomba:

It seems like they're just taking precautionary measures to make extra-sure there aren't any legal grounds to be challenged. For instance, with shuriken instead of crosses they can apply any color palette to Valentine they want, even new ones, without worrying about accidentally coming too close to the Red Cross's trademark.

This honestly seems like a pretty silly thing to be outraged about.

It ruins Valentine's design. She's supposed to be a ninja nurse, not a ninja cosplaying as a ninja. But yeah I really shouldn't care because this game is going down the toilet for all I care.

[Tanoomba]

"Ninja nurse" is the exact vibe I'm getting from her. Seems to me people are just looking for things to be angry about.

[Donko]

Originally posted by Tanoomba:

"Ninja nurse" is the exact vibe I'm getting from her. Seems to me people are just looking for things to be angry about.

That's what you think, dude. But I don't think you want to say that people are "looking for things to be angry about."