Video games have violated the Geneva Convention for years

It turns out Prison Architect developers Introversion, and a great number of other game developers, have been in violation of the Geneva Convention. Turns out a red cross against a white background, is not an image you can use freely. The developers received a letter from the British Red Cross stating:

"My immediate reason for writing is that it has been brought to our attention that in your game 'Prison Architect' a red cross emblem is displayed on vehicles. Those responsible may be unaware that use of the red cross emblem is restricted under the Geneva Conventions for the Protection of War Victims of 12 August 1949, and that unauthorised use of this sign in the United Kingdom is an offence under the Geneva Conventions Act 1957."

A serious matter indeed and Introversion saw no reason to fight it as this wasn't your standard copyright case. Instead the red crosses of old are now green in the game. Of course, it was easy to assume that the symbol so widely used was in public domain. For instance old Halo titles had the symbol on health packs, but that is no longer the case in newer Halo games.

One could argue that it is important to maintain the integrity of the symbol, as that integrity is what keeps factions at war from firing their guns at Red Cross personnel, but one could also argue that the Red Cross could use their donations for more good than having lawyers send cease and desist letters over five pixels in an indie title.

Thanks, PCGamer for bringing this to our attention.