In 1925 science and religion clashed when US courts debated the Scopes case.

Some 85 years later the two sides are once again clashing, though with decisively funnier results. It seems that US electronics retailer Best Buy is pitting itself against a church group in Wisconsin over a rather silly case of patent infringement.

Members of the Holy Family Catholic church decided to fashion a priest's car after those of the Best Buy "Geek Squad" computer repair service. The Volkswagen was given a similar logo and dubbed the "God Squad" in what was either an effort to lure in wayward sinners infected with malware from adult web sites or a promotional effort for a planned sermon titled, "Have you tried closing the Bible and opening it back up again?"

That we're reporting on this story should tell you just how well the idea went over with Best Buy. The retailer launched a cease and desist order forcing the church to get rid of the logo. While the company has since back-pedalled a bit and offered to work with the church on a new logo, you have to think that Best Buy and Geek Squad should know better.

After all, those uniforms do bare a striking resemblance to another religious sect.

17 Aug 2010