Modern Vespa

As the credits rolled by for Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit I gazed at the screen and saw this reference to a certain roundel that is very popular around here. I had no idea such a thing was even controllable. Some of you have a lot of those next to your names, so watch out for low flying aircraft!

Those bloody NSM animals, stealing other peoples stuff.

I have a number of them on my model aeroplanes. Am I breaking the law?

If it does break international law, tell 'em it's in a very specific and limited way.

I don't know if military insignia are copyright.
They are just government property.
They will likely just come load up the scoot and take it to the vehicle park
and good luck getting it back again...

Mike, I just heard. MI6 are onto you!

I think it's a criminal offence to use military insignia and display colours incorrectly.

I have simply assumed that anyone who displays the roundel in those colours is a de facto friend of Britain.

https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/royal-air-force-loses-battle-control-trademark-roundel/199607

Bah ... military symbols (or similar) there are millions of them applied all over the world and nobody cares as long as they are not used in a derogatory way.
Abbreviated or bulleted acronyms can mean everything and nothing, there can be no copyright.
For example, the Jeep Renegade FCA currently produced is also sold in military green with the star on the sides: https://www.jeep-official.it/renegade/esterni



This was my quad that I used for work and fun.
Now I don't have it anymore and I have removed the symbols for sale but the new owner has said he will put them back again.

I must have really been breaking the law back in the day. Double whammy I guess in that I had a Finnish military fishtail parka with the RAF logo on it.

The circular symbol also has the Italian and French Air Forces.

So we're safe! Thanks for the link.

I like the way "Ministry of Defence" turns into MoD. Poetic justice, or something.

I have the Italian air force roundels on my bikes so I think I'm safe

You will certainly not be targeted.

Might have been considered another form of "Stolen Valor"....the law addressing the unauthorized wear, manufacture, or sale of any military decorations and medals.

However that act was struck down by the U.S. supreme court a few years later, enabling your uncle Bob to again wear his 5 Purple Hearts and 3 Silver Stars for which he was awarded while serving as a combat clerk/typist in Georgia during the Vietnam War.

O.S.

I was really not aware of any limitations on military stuff. Not as common today, but prevalent when I grew up were " Army Surplus Stores". You could buy
and wear anything. Much of the clothing had insignias of rank and unit served in. In college, the old green army fatigue jacket was worn by everyone.

When I got back to the USA, I gave my young nephew my US Navy Service Medals. He would clip them on and go out and play. Obviously, they are long lost. I looked on line, you can buy any medal.

Here are the three medals I received in the Navy. I do not think it would be illegal for someone to wear these that did not earn them.

Bob Copeland

Actually there is a federal law called "The Stolen Valor Act" (latest version passed in 2013) which makes it illegal to claim military service, embellish actual rank attained, or claim valor awards not earned in order to obtain any tangible benefit. Veterans organizations and many other groups also regard it as unethical. Realistically this is most likely to come up regarding service in elite units, holding high rank, or being awarded the higher levels of medals for valor.

In fairness, when I was in the Army we called the National Defense Medal the "Gedunk medal" as everyone who went through basic training at the time got one. (gedunk is military slang for snacks or junk food)

Respect to those who have done military service.
The closest I got was to take instruction from the Sergeant at Arms at M.V, although I was presented with a medal in my younger days.

Is it considered a military symbol to put the Curtiss P40 Warhawk shark mouth on the nose of my scooter?

Dooglas,

I am proud of my service and do not look favorably on anyone misrepresenting their service record. I further honor those who actually went in to harms way.

I was fortunate to get assigned to NATO and stationed in Southern Italy along
with other military from Turkey, Greece, The United Kingdom, and Italy. I knew everyday I was lucky.

So, "Join the Navy and see the World".

Anchors Away,

Bob Copeland

These days? Close enough. Hey, you served, you get my respect.