LOGO DESIGN BLOG   LOGO DESIGN REVIEW

This morning I came across an interesting article on abcnews.com that pointed out something I had never before realized: Volvo and men share the same logo. That’s right, the well-known circle with an arrow pointing diagonally to the upper right, made famous by disco kings of the ’70s, is also the logo used by makers of the safest cars on the road. Just do a quick Internet search of the two symbols and it’s unmistakable.

When asked why the logos look so similar, Volvo’s product communication specialist told ABCNews “It’s not the symbol for male. It’s the symbol for Mars and Iron. It’s meant to stand for strength.” In theory this makes a lot of sense, but it seems Volvo has been limited in how it can promote this symbolism without bringing to mind to pimps and pink Cadillacs. In fact, most of the time you see Volvo advertisements, the name stands alone, unaccompanied by the graphic.

Luckily, I don’t think anyone holds a trademark on the male symbol, so the 81-year-old carmaker doesn’t need to fear a gigantic class action lawsuit for infringement. On the flip side, Volvo could be preparing to file a lawsuit against any man who promotes himself by using another registered trademark, especially as Volvo’s brand awareness continues to grow. Perhaps the company applauds the free publicity.

Still, it’s a wonder they have been able to keep this logo and use it so subtly that people don’t talk about it all the time. If Volvo had been on top of things during the ‘60s and ‘70s, their cars would have been the must-have transportation for all male hippies.

Australia’s intellectual property organization has received an application to copyright (or trademark, depending on who you ask) the much-used ‘Made in Australia’ logo. This could be a nightmare for many small business owners who have used the mark for years to distinguish their products from foreign competitors.

Many Aussie entrepreneurs claim the change would cost them millions and “tie their hands in claiming their goods are local,” according to an article in Australia’s Daily Telegraph. If the application is approved, companies that continue using the logo or phrase on their products would be infringing on intellectual property rights and could face charges.

Interestingly, another group already holds the trademark for the similarly coined “Australian Made” logo. The organization, named the Australian Made Campaign, only allows paying members whose products meet certain specifications to use the logo on their products.

It is logical to assume the applicant for the Made in Australia logo copyright is simply trying to do the same and become a competitor to the AMC. But with so much opposition to the possible copyright from independent small businesses, it wouldn’t be surprising if it doesn’t pass at all.

The University of North Dakota suffered another setback earlier this week when the NCAA denied their appeal to continue using what has been labeled a “hostile and abusive” logo. It’s a shame that the University won’t just pick up the pieces and move on, since their appeals have been repeatedly denied and the nearby Sioux tribe no longer approves of the “Fighting Sioux” moniker. But from what I have read, it seems that more appeals are in the pipeline from UND.

It seems these recent college mascot incidents have paved the way for more changes in sports mascots, most recently among high schools. A student mascot committeee from Webutuck High School in Poughkeepsie, NY, for example, has decided to change the look of their “Indian” mascot but still use a Native American theme. This after the state Commissioner asked that all schools stop using Indians as mascots.

If this trend continues, there may be thousands of schools organizing car washes and raffles to raise money for re-designed logos and sports uniforms. Some Governors may even be tempted to raise taxes to offset the additional costs of getting professional graphic design. Of course, if they use LogoWorks, maybe the costs won’t be as astronomical as they would from hiring freelancers; and the logos will still look good, unlike possible results of a school logo design contest.