Thou Shall Not Steal

A few weeks past, NPR had an interesting story about Chrysler going after a Florida High School for using a logo very close to the Chrysler Ram. What they forgot to mention is that the school’s logo in question is exactly the same as Chrysler’s.

Someone obviously got the piece of art (either legally or downloaded from the internet) and went to town with it.  A simple Google search or question to the person who submitted the art would have avoided all this mess.  Where was the school’s lawyer?

Personally, I think the principal missed a valuable opportunity to help the kids understand a valuable artistic and moral lesson.  A lesson that is becoming more and more relevant these days– trademark infringement, what a brand really means, and oh yes, taking responsibility.

As equally disturbing as the blatant ripping-off,  is that the principle and the Lake Mary school system seem to be enabling students’ misguided criticisms of who they deem to be the bad guys. This should not be a pity party. If the table was turned and a company was found to be using an original logo or icon developed by Lake Mary High School, the school system would have every right to force the company to stop the usage.

It’s definitely a “teachable moment” for the principal, the students and the community, and it was lost.  Perhaps we should use this as an example.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123781334

http://www.breitbart.tv/dodge-sues-florida-school-over-logo/

http://www.clickorlando.com/news/22413663/detail.html