Flying Swans Or Dead Duck?

informed the IPKat today that the UK's presidency of the European Union has got off to an embarrassing start, it having emerged that the logo for its presidency is virtually identical to that of the anti-European think-tank, the Bruges Group. The Bruges Group, which campaigns against farther European integration, is threatening to sue the Government for copyright infringement. Lord Lamont, the co-chairman of the group, has written to Jack Straw, the Foreign Secretary, demanding an explanation. The novel presidency logo, depicting 12 swans inwards flying - an echo of the 12 stars inwards the European Union flag - was created this yr for the Foreign Office yesteryear Johnson Banks Design, at a toll of £30,000. Michael Johnson, a founder of the company, said:

"We were looking for an persuasion that avoided visual clichés of Europe."

The Bruges Group: "We were at that topographic point first!"

agrees that at that topographic point is quite a flake of similarity. However, proof of copying may hold out hard, since the icon resembles what birds produce when they fly; mayhap the subsequently logo was inspired yesteryear existent life or yesteryear an independent source. More to the point, the threat of an activity for copyright infringement tells us ane thing: the Bruges Group virtually for certain hasn't registered its birds equally a merchandise mark. Merpel adds, why does each country's presidency of the European Union ask its ain logo? Is it something to produce amongst the Eurovision Song Contest ...?

A representative of conceptual similarity?

Rules for role of U.K. presidency logo here
Twelve wild swans here
Twelve swans a swimming here
The Bruges Group here (for pro-Europeans solely if they bring real potent stomachs)

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