Church of God sues Sony Pictures for copyright Infringement

Last week, the Church of God filed a lawsuit against Sony Worldwide Acquisitions claiming the comedy Salvation Boulevard  reproduces, in mirror image, the Church of God’s cross mark.

The film, which opened in limited release on July 15, stars Greg Kinnear as a former Grateful Dead fanatic who catches his evangelical preacher (Pierce Brosnan) in a compromising situation. Based on Larry Beinhart’s book of the same title, the movie co-stars Ed Harris, Marisa Tomei and Jennifer Connelly.

According to a complaint obtained by TorrentFreak, the Church of God – which considers itself to be more than 6 million members strong around the globe – is accusing Sony Pictures, Mandalay Pictures, IFC Films and Comcast of “copyright infringement, trademark infringement and unfair competition by using a mirrored version of the church’s logo in the film.”

Flag Placement in Church

I am thankful for the opportunity to visit many churches.  I never cease to be amazed at how many U.S, Flags I see displayed improperly.  This is an important issue.

There can be no finer part of "interior decorating" than the proud display of the United States Flag.  Churches are an appropriate places to "Show your Colors."

When the National Colors are displayed on a staff mounted to the wall of a room, it should be flown to the right at the front of the room, and any other flags displayed from separate staffs should be to the U.S. Flag's left.  If several flags are flown from the same mounting, the National Colors should be centered and hold prominence.  When displayed against a wall with another flag on crossed staffs, the National Colors should be to its own right, and the staff of the U.S. Flag should be IN FRONT OF the staff of any other flag so displayed.

What confuses churches is whether the flag is the stage flag or the congregation flag.  If the flag is displayed on the platform, and certainly behind the pulpit, it is the stage flag and must be displayed on stage right.  Stage right would be on the speaker's right as he/she faces the congregation.

Get it right.  It is respect.  It is the law.