Greenpeace StopEsso campaign.
A Paris judge has ruled in favour of Esso France and ordered
Greenpeace to stop using a parody of the Esso logo in its StopEsso
campaign in France, pending a full hearing of the case.
Justice Binoche rejected categorically Esso's claims that the
design of the StopEsso website logo linked the company to the
infamous Nazi 'SS' and damaged Esso's reputation. Esso, which is
marketed as Exxon and Mobil globally, was seeking 80,000 Euro per
day if Greenpeace did not comply. The judge reduced this sum to
5,000 Euro per day and allowed the continued use of the term
'StopEsso'.
"Of course we are disappointed in the ruling. This decision is a
blow for freedom of expression on the internet, as well as for the
climate," said Greenpeace International Climate campaigner,
Stephanie Tunmore. "We believe that it is Esso's own behaviour in
attempting to undermine international action on climate change that
is damaging its reputation, rather than anything we are doing. As
long as Esso continues to sabotage climate protection, it will
continue to attract the anger of the public."
"Esso is trying to use the court system to 'shoot the
messenger'. The company has a history of using money to get what it
wants - whether that is lobbying the White House with millions of
dollars, or buying pseudo-science and advertising campaigns that
have the effect of confusing the public about global warming.
Regardless of the outcome of this case, the global campaign to stop
Esso's interference in international climate policy will continue,"
added Tunmore.
StopEsso, a coalition of groups, including Greenpeace, is
campaigning around the world to stop Esso from sabotaging
international action to address climate change, such as the Kyoto
Protocol. The French website
http://www.greenpeace.fr/stopesso/index.html over which Esso is
sueing, is one of several StopEsso sites globally.
"Esso can't win a debate about climate change, and it won't
discuss the content of the website. Esso's action in taking
Greenpeace to court has simply made its bad reputation even worse.
This court case is just another attempt by Esso to use its money as
a means of continuing its dirty business unhindered. But money
can't buy justice and no-one, not even the richest oil corporation
in the world, can buy the climate," concluded Tunmore.
Notes: For more information visit the new Greenpeace Planet website www.greenpeace.org or http://www.greenpeace.fr/stopesso/index.html or http://www.stopesso.org