The Robert Shaw Chorale, RCA Victor Orchestra conducted by Robert Shaw
Liner notes, Robert A. Simon
Cover photo, Stephen Fay
Liner illustration, Mozelle Thompson
matrix numbers:
J2RP-3450
J2RP-3451
Images
Number:3513227 THUMBNAIL Uploaded By:annaloog● Description: RCA Victor Red Seal LM-2231, "On Stage With Robert Shaw", Side 1 label
Number:3513228 Uploaded By:annaloog● Description: RCA Victor Red Seal LM-2231, "On Stage With Robert Shaw", Side 2 label
Number:3513226 HIDDEN Uploaded By:annaloog● Description: RCA Victor Red Seal LM-2231, "On Stage With Robert Shaw", partial cover scan
The point you're missing is, if there was already a licence agreement - a legal contract, binding on all parties - for Victor and its successors or assignees (fairly standard language in this kind of situation, I think) to use the trademark for an already agreed period, then EMI could not have unilaterally "stepped in to reclaim their trademark" without incurring some sort of legal and/or financial consequence; that would surely have been the case then, as well as now.
I doubt that your argument would stand up in court, Neil. Whenever a company buys another company's assets (which can include licences), those assets automatically become the property of the buyer, so unless there was a provision in the licence agreement to state that the licence would be terminated if the licensee (in this case, Victor) was sold, then the buyer (RCA) is absolutely within its rights to continue using the trademark.
It appears Hollywood was a bit delayed in getting the newer red "shaded dogs," as here it's still more or less "Dark Maroon Seal" rather than "Red Seal." Proof can be found here on an Indianapolis pressing.