Ges.gesch.mark?

[ben baars]

Gentlemen,
Some days ago I bought an old triangled badge of a ski-school. Text; Ski Schule Kössen; under the text a ski and an Edelweiss pictured.
Reverse shows us the makersname "Fortha" and place "Wien" (Austria) . In the centre, on the pin, is a little plate soldered with "Ges. gesch." Gesetzlich Geschützt.
Questions;
As far as I know the GERMAN badges are stamped "Ges. gesch." from ca. 1919 up to 1945?Correct?
Could it be an Austrian Third Reich badge so made after 1938?
Or did Austria also mark badges "Ges. gesch." before their occupation?

MfG Ben Baars

[TerryG]

The Ges. Gesch mark is something like patent pending. I guess this means that it could still be used today, could it not?
Have you any photos of the badge?

[sjl]

The term "Gesetzlich Geschutz" simply means "Legally Protected" in German. It was placed on items to show that the design was legally protected by trademark law, or was being used under license from its legal owner. It has the same effect as marking something in the English-speaking world with a *TM or *R. It can appear on any production or design item in the German-speaking world (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) from the 1800s to today.