Logo No-No? Brunner Campaign Changes Course With Bus
Use of Marine Corps logo may be in violation of military trademark guidelines.
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John Brunner's United States Senate campaign is taking a United States Marine Corps logo off a campaign bus after Creve Coeur Patch questioned if the logo may have been used in violation of Marine Corps trademark guidelines.
Brunner served in the Marines as an Infantry Officer, rose to the rank of Captain, and leans on his military experience on the campaign stump and in advertising.
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But according to the Marine Corps Trademark and Licensing Program, using the branch's logo as the Brunner campaign has with a small logo on the rear of a campaign bus, could be considered a problem.
I'm running for a political office and am a former Marine. Can I use Marine Corps trademarks on my campaign materials?
No, you may not use the official Marine Corps Seal, Eagle, Globe and Anchor (EGA), or any other USMC insignia or trademark in this manner, since it might create the impression that your candidacy is endorsed by or affiliated with the USMC in some way, or that the USMC has chosen your candidacy over other candidates. You are more than welcome, to simply and accurately state that you are a Marine Corps veteran, that's fine, that's a fact. But using the EGA which is a trademark of the USMC, and protected by Federal law (please see 10 USC 7881) is something you may not do. This is consistent with the Marine Corps Uniform Regulations which clearly states that the wearing of the uniform in a political context is strictly prohibited. Please see Section 11002(1)(a)(2) and (3) of the Marine Corps Uniform Regulations.
A closer look at the federal statute indicates the Secretary of the Navy can sign off on the use of logos.
In a statement to Patch Saturday, Brunner's Press Secretary John Sutter said "The campaign believes that the RV does not constitute campaign materials, but we will remove the sticker just to be cautious."
paul bass
8:59 am on Sunday, August 5, 2012
born Dec 1951, discharged USMC 1JAN 1970,, that is barely 19 years old, and be a captain, deployed to NATO, Carribian, and Med, served as Platoon Commander, XO, and Adj. then graduated college 1973. sounds confusing as the other candidate with the ecomonics (home economics) degree.
Jan Brunner
3:21 am on Monday, August 6, 2012
Mr Bass, your information regarding John's service is simply incorrect. His service is from 1973-1978.
Scott Simon
3:39 pm on Monday, August 6, 2012
Look, I like John Brunner and was most likely going to vote for him tomorrow. But this is alarming. If he hired a staff that allowed this, then what can we really expect from him and staff management? Use of the logo is an absolutely ridiculous and stupid error. Good professional campaign staffers on their worst day wouldn't be making this error yet Brunner's staff does it on their best day.
Robert Stephan
5:45 am on Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Has anyone seen his DD214? Isn't Adj an Axx Kissing job? Should make him a good Politician!
Ernest Murray
5:28 pm on Saturday, August 11, 2012
Not allowed to display his Eagle Globe and Anchor that he earned? Just becasue of some farfetched reasoning? I read of posers walking around wearing the Eagle Globe and Anchor and the courts defended their right to free speach. I see the Eagle Globe and anchor plastered on air soft rifles in the sporting goods shope ..are they paying for a right to use the logo? They tell us we earned the right to the title and to wear the Eagle Globe and Anchor then they say oh your a politican you cant use it as a logo it might offend some muslim? How about the initals USMC? is that protected? I saw a picture of obama wearing a shirt with that on it. did he earn it?
Ernest Murray Master Gunnery Sergeant retired
Ernest Murray
5:30 pm on Saturday, August 11, 2012
does marching in a gay pride parade wearing the uniform with eagle globe and anchor violate any regulations? OH I forgot it was condoned by the pentagon.