The cross copyrighted?

Question

Is there any legal principle which would allow the Church to copyright or register the cross, and associated imagery, which would then mean it could not be used out of a religious context? Many Muslim countries have specific law which forbids the use of the star and crescent outside of a religious meaning.
I ask because i am sick of 'trendy' people using a sacred symbol as decoration. Why doesn't someone do anything about it?!

To angelchele, yes I do mean when people wear a cross, but not the reason. I'm sick of the symbol of my religion being used as a decoration- other religions wouldn't allow it, so why do Christians do so?

Answer 1

No. Copyright protects artistic works (written, auditory or visual). While a particular ornate cross design might be copyrighted as a specific work of art, the basic symbol cannot be.

The closest equivalent is trademark law, where a symbol is protected from competing commercial use. But since the church is (theoretically) non-commercial, that wouldn't apply.

Besides, the symbol is old enough that nobody can claim exclusive rights to it. In fact, its religious use predates Christianity by several thousand years. So, you're just either going to have to learn to be tolerant, or get used to being sick and unhappy.

Answer 2

Why should anything be done about it. Look, legally, there's no problem with "Jerry Springer, The Opera" either. No doubt in the countries to which you refer, a similar opera about mohommedanism would be illegal too.
Here we have freedom. If you believe that a symbol represents your religion, that 's fine. Believe what you want. But, others just see it as a interesting/weird/ornamental/d aft shape.
Don't forget also, that some of the countries who protect the star and crescent also forbid any other religions, forbid the members of their own state controlled religion to ever leave it, base the entire legislation of a country on what is little more than barbaric superstition. We don't want that in the western culture. If people WANT that sort of restrictive control over their lives, there are countries that they would like. That's where they should live instead of trying to force other countries to become similar dictatorships.

Answer 3

No, due to religious freedom in our country people have every right to do what ever they want with a cross. The could copyright a specific image but other crosses could still be used. In many Muslim countries the Church is the government and vice versa so they are able to limit the use of holy symbols.

Answer 4

Fortunately, the US isn't a Christian theocracy, so copyright law doesn't protect one mythology over all others.

Second, within copyright law, I doubt a cross could gain much protection under the merger doctrine. There are only so many ways to express the idea of "cross", and any copyright granted would most likely be quite thin.

Suggestion: worry less about other people who aren't doing anything wrong, and concentrate on yourself.

Answer 5

the Cross is of many religions, including Celtic, no one religion has a right to make it their copyright privilege. what do you mean as trendy decoration? do you mean when people were a cross, but not the reasons it represents? can you clarify please? if what i think is what you mean, you can say how can a gang member wear a Cross and still feel that killing another gang member as being right.

Answer 6

No. Public Domain. Although, I wouldn't push my luck in a foriegn country and involving an Islamic religious symbol. They do have their own laws and are quite strict about those things over there.

Answer 7

Nope, not in most countries.

It's a historical symbol that was used even before the Christian faith was born, so Christians can't even lay exclusive claim to it as Muslims can the combination of cresent & star.

Answer 8

the earliest records of crosses was found in the city of babel which later became known as babylon and was the birthplace of false religion. it was used in worship rituals to promote fertility.
the greek text used the word stauros for the weapon that killed Jesus. this translates as a pole, stake or tree. it never implied it was two pieces of wood crossed over to make a crucifix.

Answer 9

The Christian Cross is a contender for the 'Mark of the Beast' - you would be wise not put your faith in it...

The Beast some believe to be ROME.

The Cross (XP, or Chi-Rho) represents Rome's crushing defeat of Yeshua Bar Joseph (Jesus's real name), and others like him who are considered to be a threat - Spartacus for example...

Answer 10

Because in America we call it the 1st Amendment. You know that pesky free speech one. If you feel different, move to a Muslim country. Be sure you wave your American flag outside your door.