Greenpeace logo links us to SS, claim Esso lawyers

The petrol conglomerate Esso began legal action against Greenpeace yesterday over a doctored version of its logo which allegedly links the company with the Nazi SS.

Lawyers for the company have lodged the case in France demanding that the environmental pressure group stops using a version of Esso's famous oval trademark replacing the two S's with dollar signs. Greenpeace says it uses the slogan to suggest the oil group is interested only in making money and not environmental considerations.

But papers submitted to the court by Esso last week say the doctored logo infringes its copyright and is "likely to conjure up" the infamous double lightning insignia of Hitler's élite troops. The company wants the logo, used as part of a campaign which claims dirty tricks stifle climate-change legislation, to be banned in France. It also wants the phrase "Stop Esso" removed from a website used by the pressure group's French arm.

The company is seeking fines of €80,000 (£53,000) for every 24 hours that Greenpeace continues to use the logo or web address in the event of a judgment in its favour. The case is to be heard in Paris on Monday.