WHERE SUCCESSFUL ADVERTISING MEETS LGBT EQUALITY

AIDS Committee of Toronto, Welcome to Condom Country

Members:

This print and outdoor ad for the largest AIDS service organization in Canada debuted during Gay Pride and brought the wrath of the maker of Marlboro cigarettes, Philip Morris. It parodies the popular brand's Marlboro Man campaign and borrows of the well known slogan, "Welcome to Marlboro Country."

"In the look and feel we believe it's very similar and it concerns us," National Post quoted Robert Kaplan, Philip Morris's director of communications, saying. "We object to any unauthorized use of our intellectual property." He added, "We have no problem with the cause, we understand the importance of the cause ... it's more about the use of what feels like something that's very similar to our own intellectual property."

In response, Charles Roy, executive director of ACT, said, "Our ad tried to be a parody on any number of ads that have been running over the past 30 years that target a macho male image. There are truck ads that have cowboys and bales of hay and horses. Any kind of consumer product that targets men has a tradition of using this macho male cowboy image, and cigarette companies, when they were able to advertise in Canada, were no exception."

He said ACT checked with lawyers before the campaign and that they said it would not infringe any copyright.

The Toronto Transit Commission registered several hundred complaints against the ads, supported by $400,000 (Canadian), however the "number of complaints paled in comparison to the number of positive responses received," according to media buyer Robert Vitella.

User Comments
John
Why not two horses? With two men on one and a male and female on the other, as well as an older couple in the scene. Try being inclusive. HIV does not discriminate because of sexuality or diversity of any kind, not even age, why should the ad? You need two more couples in the ad that show affection and I believe this can be done.

Jim
I loved it. It's not your normal AIDS commercial. At the start you do not know that it is going to be one.

Janae
Am I the only person who thinks that looks more like a woman in front?

Farraro Sutton
Straight and to the point. What better way to say it?