(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.
![](http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://torontolife.com/city/city-forced-shut-clever-anti-littering-ad-campaign/&title=The city has been forced to shut down its clever anti-littering ad campaign&picture=https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/toronto-littering-ads-small.jpg&description=[caption id="attachment_288460" align="alignleft" width="200"] (Image: city of Toronto)[/caption]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.){kind=link}
Uggh.. I’m less upset by the futility of the campaign.. more by the incompetence. Any professional in marketing/PR would be aware of copyright issues and would have taken appropriate measures in creating the campaign. Another great ‘build a hole, fill a hole’ project brought to you by your tax dollars.
This is a win. This is the first city advertising campaign I have seen on reddit. Even the fact that it got shut down is a win. Nice work!