Correction below.
Iain Soder swears it was just a joke, that the postcards he designed for a NSCAD course—postcards that set an “I (Heart) Dartmouth” symbol against images of blasted-out craters and smoke-spewing oil refineries—were inspired by the good-natured barbs he and a Dartmouth-based friend have traded over the years.
But Soder’s postcards sparked some controversy a couple of weeks ago when he started selling them at Just Us! cafe on Barrington Street, where he’s been an employee for five years. A customer subsequently shared the images with Zane Kelsall and Tara MacDonald, who own the Dartmouth cafe Two If By Sea and have trademarked (see correction below) the I (Heart) Dartmouth logo.
“We thought it was a stab at us, for sure,” says Kelsall of the postcards. “I saw a petty addition to the Halifax-Dartmouth rivalry. My first thought was, ‘Why are they doing this?’”
The postcards weren’t a Just Us! initiative, though. According to Just Us! CEO Tom Smith and cafe manager Cherie Dufour, the company often allows artists to post and sell their wares in the Barrington Street location, and Dufour had Soder’s work removed immediately when a customer complained. Neither Soder or the Just Us! bigwigs knew that Two If By Sea had trademarked the I (Heart) Dartmouth symbol, a fact Soder touched on in a letter of apology to Two If By Sea.
Kelsall and MacDonald are satisfied that the postcards weren’t intended as a competitive dig and say they won’t let the incident poison their relationship with Just Us!. Still, they can’t understand how Just Us! management could allow artwork that seemed to disparage Dartmouth—and that used an image associated with Two If By Sea—to be sold in their store.
For his part, Soder is a little sheepish. “I feel quite embarrassed at creating this tension between the two cafes,” he says. “I stuck (the postcards) in the wrong context.”
Correction, 21July6:10pm Matt Semansky writes: Upon following up with Two If By Sea ownership, I’ve learned that Two If By Sea does not own the trademark for the I Heart Dartmouth symbol, as was initially reported in the article. Although the cafe sells pins and clothing sold in the store, uses IHeartDartmouth.com as its web address and considers the symbol part of its branding, Iain Soder did not commit any legal offence in the creation and sale of his postcards. The Coast regrets the error.
This article appears in Jul 21-27, 2011.
I think it’s in pretty poor taste that these were sold at a rival coffee shop… but also, this is not even very well executed. Who would buy this?
That’s funny.
And ripping off LotR too, wow. Tell me, Iain, did you at least take the picture of Dartmouth yourself or did you gank that from someone else too?
He’ll be selling coffee for many more years.
Chimps produce better ‘art’ than he does and they didn’t waste time at NSCAD.
There is no doubt that posting these at Just Us! was perhaps not thought through, but it was in fact an innocent attempt to swiftly cover up graffiti – on the wall of a bathroom that is graciously open to anyone who needs it and vandalized by a few.
Just Us! staff have – from the get-go – supported TIBS business – whether admiring their great coffee, buying their yummy croissants (even one year for a staff Christmas party), or trying to develop a cooperative and mutually respectful coffee culture, as exists in many cities.
This story is not newsworthy – it is The Coast playing favorites with those who chose to or not to advertise in their publication.
As someone who lived in Dartmouth for 6 of the 10 years I’ve been in the HRM, I plan to buy a home there someday and am a passionate advocate for Dartmouth. You might say I love Dartmouth (back even before it was trademarked.) Luckily, I do have a sense of humour, of camaraderie, and I don’t have too much time on my hands.
I didn’t think cities could be trademarked??? So I can’t make my own t-shirts that say “I [insert heart] Dartmouth.”
Please. There’s no Coast conspiracy at work here. A freelancer pitched a story, and I accepted it.
For the record, “The Coast,” whoever that is, likes and enjoys both coffeeshops.
A NSCAD student?? Really?? Looks like he pasted this piece of shit together with Microsoft Paint. Ah, artists of the future…
I would buy the card. Contrary to what some have stated, no doubt miffed that the artist did not use the famed oil on oil technique to paint fiery sunsets on mountain lakes, the card above is well executed . I hire graphic artists for a living , in case you are wondering.
Shouldn’t a trademark be identifiable with the company that claims it? A person must have to go to Two If By Sea to know this logo. I have an “I(heart) Dartmouth” pin that was given to employees when our offices were moved to downtown Dartmouth as part of a “welcome to Dartmouth” package. I had no idea it was associated with Two If By Sea. I just thought it was exactly what it said, a pin that proclaims my love of Dartmouth. It’s on my cubicle wall. Changes my perception now that I think it’s associated with a business. Not that I have anything against Two If By Sea, I’ve heard it’s a great place, but it’s not what I thought the pin was.
Can they really restrict others from using such a generic term? These “I (heart) whatever” is everywhere, for everything. Seems wrong they can do that.
This is totally ridiculous. Zane is just whining and trying to generate buzz about his business or some crap like that. It’s a joke about Dartmouth – get it? Cause people in Halifax make fun of Dartmouth. Evil-looking oil refinery in Dartmouth – Mordor? It’s not some sort of Just Us plot to take down Two if By Sea.
Also, can TIBS prove that they have *actually* trademarked I <3 Dartmouth? Just did a quick search on the government website -
http://www.cipo.ic.gc.ca/app/opic-cipo/trd…
Don’t see it there anywhere.
I think that the card is funny. I would buy one. Some people take themselves too seriously.
Maybe Dartmouthians (is that what we’re called?), including the TIBS people, could argue that they’re offended by the postcards because they promote a Dartmouth-Halifax rivalry, but being upset that they’ve violated a TIBS trademark? I call B.S. on that one. Zauron is right: there is no record of TIBS having a trademark on any variation of I (Heart) Dartmouth (or anyone else having a similar trademark) in the Canadian database of trademarks and copyrights. Just saying “we trademarked something” doesn’t make it true. Did you ACTUALLY trademark it, TIBS?
@ Strikes “I hire graphic designers for a living”… “well executed”… explain that part please lol.
Especially the part where having no digital composition skills and making no attempt to blend in layers from completely differnt sources makes this a well executed piece. Other than the fact you find it titalating of course.
Perhaps that is his “artistic license” when in reality, he’s obviously just unskilled and/or lazy. If your job is indeed “hiring graphic designers” you may want to learn what it is real graphic designers actually do, lol
I love it where can I by a poster size of it. The dark star of Dartmouth burning brightly.
Really where can I by A poster size of it!!!
This kind of weak reporting is why I normally read Coast only for Savage.
Who knew that I heart Dartmouth was even associated with TIBS more than any other company? Not me, and I’ve been there several times. Maybe I just went for the coffee.
In my experience, JustUs is about fair trade, saving the planet and everybody getting along, not some backdoor American-style smear campaign, especially one that the vast majority of patrons wouldn’t recognise.
How is this in any way a big deal? It’s a joke. If you don’t find it funny, move along. If you vocalize any supposed offense you are doing nothing but fueling a fire. It’s a small bit of silly design meant to get a laugh. Get over it.
sweet, now Zane not only has a reputation as an a**hole, but also as a liar, good one.
people acting smug about nscad and the lack of talented artists today sound like wankers. some art is meant to hang on gallery walls and some art is meant to be fun and accessible. don’t act like you’re the authority on art just because you know what ‘layers’ mean. did you hear that dartmouthy?
Did you take that picture of Mordor yourself? Hmmm?? Or did you just steal it from some poor hobbits? Do you realize what Frodo had to go through to get there? He’s like 2 foot tall. Some people are just SO insensitive to the pains of others.
How in any way does Zane come off as liar in this? This journalist asked him his thoughts and he gave them. Another cafe parodies a logo commonly associated with TIBS; the connection is obvious.
blah. life is so serious. TIBS relax. A few years ago you didn’t exist, now you have a thriving business. I personally avoid it, but others do not. So good for you. Relax and enjoy life. Don’t contact the owners of Just Us! and try to get Iain fired or throw around legal language. Harmless action from a student with a sense of humour.
Lots to love about Dartmouth in this shot! What a view. Not so much to love about how seriously some people are taking this. Also, the art aficionados on here are amusing with their critiques! So serious!
ps love the brushwork.
@greenleatherchairs: zane said this logo was trademarked… It’s not, that is the way in which it appears he has lied. Or maybe he just couldn’t remember whether or not he trade marked it.. oh no, that doesn’t seem plausible. He just lied about that detail obviously unaware of how easy it is to confirm trademark licenses.
people, they be sayin that this postcard aint so well executed but
dartmoth isnt very well executed neither.
second of all, everyone would have enjoyed it if they wasnt such dimb babies
from dartmoth
@janine sorry I won’t ever trash your ill-inspired white trash artwork, i promise. Now feel free to go back to growing that handlebar moustache of yours.
Haha while this postcard is hilarious I think it’s obvious that it’s not intended to be taken that seriously as a piece of classically well made art.
This is embarrassing for TIBS. Learn how to take a joke. What was the desired outcome of this article supposed to be because it seems to me like an opportunity for Zane to play some kind of victim card to increase his business.
I’m so pleased that other people have also realized the bull-shittery at play here and am satisfied that this has completely backfired on TIBS’ reputation. Stop taking yourself so seriously and have some fun!
I think the postcard is hilarious. I must check out the volcano soon.
The “Zane is a douche” material keeps flowing, but is Semansky off the hook for this? Dude, I know you normally only do movie reviews, but you could have spent five minutes checking out the trademark claim, like some folks on here (who didn’t collect a paycheque) did.
That may have wrecked your story, though.
umm! e-mail iain.soder@facebook.com, and i’ll make you a poster!
Once again The Coast shows how much of a trashy tabloid rag that it is. Pitting their paid advertising customer against a hard working independent business owner in a story about nothing. Again The Coast publishes an article without checking their facts first.
Good lord, what a terrible photoshop job. I hope he’s better at making coffee than he is at making art. (Having drank the coffee at Just Us! I doubt it, though.)
I love both cities, both cafes, and I think it is a wonderful postcard! Good work Iain, no need to be sheepish! Save me a copy and bring it to me when you come down for Peter Pan!
The Coast comes off looking like douches that someone would write a LTWWB about. Good one, gang.
Probably explains why Matt just does movie reviews. Better luck next time.
I remember a Simpsons gag where it pans to the tv:
“Next on Wings…ahh who cares?”
Same feeling for this piece. Who cares?
I got a hot new lead for you: Local Merchants rip off Hollywood!!! Or did they buy the rights to the title? http://cf1.imgobject.com/posters/389/4bc95…
ha-ha, in my best Nelson Muntz.
Seriously though, yes I do know it’s an age-old phrase, just having fun with y’all.
Nice pic of dartmouth. I’ve seen that volcano blow plenty of times. It’s located just behind the #4 green at Brightwood golf club.
People are such fucking uptight babies. Take a joke pansies.
Please… a volcano that big does not exist in Dartmouth.
One was proposed but the Heritage Trust appealed because of potential effect on wind and shadows, and the Save the View folk felt it would detract from the viewplane from Brightwood.
My thoughts too, natk! It’s freaking LOTR, so unless Dartmouth’s got the dark lord Sauron and the fires of Mount Doom, it’s not a real comparison.
LOL Steven Beyea! Bravo!! lol
Haha, I live in dartmouth and thats hilarious. I wish it were like that, gimme a sword and a shield! 😀 Time to die orcses!