USA Coat of Arms use by Private Orgs

 
Jeffrey Boyd Garrison
 
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Jeffrey Boyd Garrison
Total Posts:  1006
Joined  10-03-2009
 
 
 
29 December 2014 09:29
 

So, was wondering what people think about the appropriateness of using USA coat of arms shield device in private organization and corporate logos…

An example can be found (as of 12/29/2014) on the website (http://www.uspa.org) for USPA ("United States Parachute Association") which consists of what appears to be the shield device of the USA coat of arms, surmounting a parachute open between two wings.

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Joseph McMillan
 
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Joseph McMillan
Total Posts:  7658
Joined  08-06-2004
 
 
 
29 December 2014 14:48
 

Jeffrey Boyd Garrison;103289 wrote:

So, was wondering what people think about the appropriateness of using USA coat of arms shield device in private organization and corporate logos…

An example can be found (as of 12/29/2014) on the website (http://www.uspa.org) for USPA ("United States Parachute Association") which consists of what appears to be the shield device of the USA coat of arms, surmounting a parachute open between two wings.

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I don’t think it’s particularly appropriate, and in principle (if the US Patent and Trademark Office knew anything about heraldry) should not be registrable as a trademark.  But we have a long history of Americans viewing the national arms as their arms, not exclusively the government’s arms, so as long as the representation doesn’t imply official status for the organization (by simulating the emblazonment on the great seal or presidential seal, for example), and is not a flagrant case of marketing, I don’t think there’s much harm done.