logo: symbol for a brand, company, event, or idea
raise awareness: help people know or learn about something
trademark: a name or symbol that only one person or group has the legal right to use
public domain: not subject to copyright; available for all to use
The Recycling Symbol Is In The Public Domain
The recycling symbol is a universal symbol. People around the world recognize that three arrows in a triangular formation identify a recyclable object. Recycling bins often contain this symbol as well. This symbol was designed by an American college student in 1970. Gary Anderson, an architect major, designed the logo for a contest held by the Container Corporation of America (CCA). The first Earth Day had sparked a lot of interest in environmental issues, and the CCA wanted to raise more awareness about waste paper collection. It was quite some time after Gary Anderson won the CCA’s contest that the symbol became internationally recognized. Though CCA did try to register the logo as a trademark, it did not succeed. Since then, the logo has been in the public domain. This means anyone can use it and adapt it.
