Feature story - 26 February, 2003
A decision by a French court to lift an injunction against the use of a parody logo on the StopEsso website was an important victory for free speech on the internet, a victory for the climate, and evidence that Esso's strategy to silence critics using the courts is futile.
"Esso is sabotaging climate protection in order to continue its
dirty business and has attempted to use the courts to silence its
critics. Today that strategy failed," said Greenpeace's Stephanie
Tunmore.
Esso France began legal action against Greenpeace in July 2000
over the StopEsso website, which uses a logo featuring a double
dollar sign ($$) in place of the double "S" in the oil giant's red
and blue logo.
In July last year, a French judge upheld Esso's bid to get the
logo taken off the Greenpeace France website. But after hearing
Greenpeace's appeal, Justice Lacabarats in Paris found that
StopEsso's use of the logo was allowable under the right to free
speech.
"It is Esso's own behaviour interfering in international action
on climate change that is damaging its reputation," said
Tunmore.
Find out more about our
campaign to Stop Esso.