The city has been forced to shut down its clever anti-littering ad campaign

The city has been forced to shut down its clever anti-littering ad campaign

(Image: city of Toronto)
Everyone has probably noticed these city-produced ads on transit shelters and buses. The mash-ups of different types of familiar product packaging, created by the ad agency Publicis Canada, make the point very eloquently: if you toss garbage on the street, you’re a terrible person. Except, it turns out, the city neglected a crucial detail. The Globe reports that the ad campaign is in the process of being abruptly ended after some of the companies whose logos were used in the eye-catching images complained. “It really had to do with trademark infringement on some of the products,” city spokesperson Jackie DeSouza told the paper. Yes, we imagine it did. Well, so much for that ad concept. Chuck and Vince are probably waiting for the phone to ring right now.