The head of NSZZ “Solidarność” sent a letter to the director of the European Solidarity Centre to “immediately stop using the trade union logo”. In May this year the court has issued an invalid judgment on the copyright of the graphic sign Solidarność.
The press service of NSZZ “Solidarność” informed about the letter from Piotr Duda to Basil Kerski “in connection with the illegal modification of the Solidarity graphic board by ECS.” The association’s website states that ECS uses a modified graphic board in which the Polish flag is replaced by the EU and the inscription is blue.
It was reported that ECS “not only displays (the logo – PAP) on its headquarters, but also uses it in official letters. Most recently – in an invitation to the celebration of the 44th anniversary of the August Agreements, combined with the 10th anniversary of the ECS headquarters.
The press service of the trade union reported that on May 8, 2024, the Gdańsk District Court in a non-final judgment stated that the copyright on the graphic sign Solidarity belongs to NSZZ “Solidarność”, based in Gdańsk. At the same time, the court ordered Jerzy Janiszewski (author of the logo – PAP) not to grant licenses and other types of permits for the exercise and beneficial use of copyright on the graphic sign Solidarność.
This means, as reported by the union’s press service, that any changes to the Solidarity graphic sign must be approved by union representatives.
Because ECS used a modified logo without – as the union claims – permission from NSZZ “Solidarność”, Piotr Duda sent a letter to the director of ECS in which he “expressed indignation at such behavior”.
With amazement and horror, NSZZ “Solidarność” is once again confronted with the trampling of its fundamental rights, which form the basis of a democratic constitutional state.
– wrote Duda.
He added that the copyright of the union’s logo and the union’s personal rights are being trivialized by the director of a cultural institution that “aims to share the achievements of the peaceful struggle for freedom, justice, democracy and human rights”.
Despite common knowledge, even confirmed by a court ruling, you, as the director of ECS, do not respect the rights of the trade union and, without any respect, dispose of the NSZZ “Solidarność” logo, changing it to letters at your discretion.
– pointed to the head of the union.
“Immediate termination”
He stressed that the union is against such actions and that “such excesses must be stigmatized, giving rise to a demand to immediately stop using the union logo,” he added.
The union’s press service reported that the lawsuit against the Solidarity graphic sign had been pending in the Gdańsk District Court since 2022. Jerzy Janiszewski, the creator of the “S” logo, demanded that he be granted the copyright to the sign. The union believed that it should be theirs.
The Gdańsk District Court ordered the author of the logo not to grant licenses and other types of permits for the exercise and use of copyrights to the graphic sign Solidarność. The order is – as reported by the union’s press service – applicable in the territory of Poland and the entire world for the duration of copyright protection.
The court also ruled that NSZZ “Solidarność”, based in Gdańsk, is entitled to the copyright on the graphic sign Solidarity. These rights are valid in Poland and worldwide for the duration of copyright protection.
The parties had the right to appeal against the non-final judgment of the court of first instance.
PAP put questions to the European Solidarity Centre and asked for comments. We intend to continue the topic.
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mly/PAP
Source: wPolityce
Emma Matthew is a political analyst for “Social Bites”. With a keen understanding of the inner workings of government and a passion for politics, she provides insightful and informative coverage of the latest political developments.