Biohazard: Iconic symbol designed to be “memorable but meaningless” (2016)
99percentinvisible.org
99percentinvisible.org
„The three ellipses - 3 basic principles by which primordial matter differentiated. The sacred trinity found in all religious and philosophical systems. They are rotated to each other at an angle of 120°, expressing their harmonious relationship.
The circle within each ellipse - symbolizing the interconnectedness of the microcosm and macrocosm.
The open ellipse and the circle to the outer space - expresses the necessity of constant energy exchange with the environment. When this requirement is violated, any existence ceases to exist.“
Just like cats fly away from cucumbers, we probably have a few innate patterns triggered by some shapes. Snakes maybe, multi legged things.. oh and Trypophobic patterns.
https://web.archive.org/web/20170719080459/http://www.enlaso...
The reactions from testing varied quite widely based on geography, as they were trying to create a system that worked in 109 countries. For example, the original orange icon for sugar was said to resemble Scottish subway signs, Canadian road signs, and Danish danger signs. An early symbol for calcium showed a milk carton, but was scrapped because some regions mistook it for a building, portable toilet, phallic symbol, or tombstone. They had to take into consideration cultural and religious connotations for certain shapes as well.
In particular, this little experiment: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/327766252_The_Good_...
Also, very sympathetic with the inventor being upset with use of the symbol out of it's place, thereby reducing it's effectiveness. This seems like one instance where copyright law should be implemented and strictly enforced, some kind of license free-to-use for actual biohazards but not anything else.
"Johnson & Johnson has registered the symbol for their medicinal products."
How did this ever get approved?
"The appropriation of the symbol has led to further irritation due to the practice of hospitals, first aid teams, and ski patrols in the United States reversing the symbol to a white cross on a red background – so undoing the original idea of the Red Cross emblem, namely reversing the Swiss flag – thus inappropriately suggesting an affiliation with Switzerland."
I imagine many other video games violate the Geneva convention!
Secondly, copyright holder can die, coupyright could be sold, and new owner could be irresponsible, litigious, and repurpose the symbol for a brand of coffee.
Then what, should all labs and scientists in the world find a new symbol?
The only solution is to treat misuse of the symbol same way we treat misusing emergency services.
I was first thinking of laws, but they are slow & contentious to pass (esp with one party consistently acting in bad faith), so I quickly landed on copyright, which of course has all the problems you cite and more.
Maybe start with (C), and pass laws to implement your solution? Or, maybe there's a way prosecutors can leverage existing laws.
Of course, that shirt is for sale in Australia and I have no idea what fair use encompasses there.
(Also, the design aesthetic of that shirt is atrocious in every sense.)
In the case of radiation, the projections have hard edges and linear Direction. In the case of biohazard, the projections are curved. Curves are associated with Biology and hard lines and sharp Corners are associated with technology.
Both have three radial repetitions building similarity.
While the article calls the symbol meaningless there is clear intuition to both. There is a center and projections spreading from it. This indicates a source and danger spreading from it
In this fashion, Bill Cipher character from Gravity Falls is the walking sign of theological danger and also that danger incarnate.
* - if ancient Greek would be inventing that sign, they'll surely pick Zeus' ligtning bolt inside the yellow triangle - e.g. the one we use for electricity
That's Phi
If something reminds somebody of something it gets this meaning intended or not.
I can also understand a skull/bones symbol rotated by any angle. Might it offend someone? Probably...what doesn't.