The USPS stamp selection criteria state "Stamps or stationery shall not be issued to promote or advertise commercial enterprises or products." I think under any reasonable interpretation of this rule, the DC comics sheet would fail. If it weren't for the USPS copyright, it would be easy to mistake the stamp sheet as as DC Comics publication. If the USPS wanted to honour comic book superheroes they should have done it honestly, and included Marvel and all the rest.
This complaint applies equally well to the Disney, Warner Bros., and similar marketing-friendly issues.
Granted, Canada Post is no shining paragon of virtue (e.g. two national hardware store chains have been honoured, and of course these stamps have been sold in their respective stores) but at least they don't ignore any rules against it. Because, well, there aren't any that prohibit such blatant shilling. The requirement that stamp subjects should "enhance the high regard for Canadian stamps and Canada in Canadian and international philatelic circles" ought to count for something, but when "Canadian Tire Money" is a national institution a Canadian Tire commemorative stamp isn't far behind.
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timeasmymeasure
An interesting interpretation of the rules, I see.
Date: 2005-12-02 09:43 pm (UTC)This complaint applies equally well to the Disney, Warner Bros., and similar marketing-friendly issues.
Granted, Canada Post is no shining paragon of virtue (e.g. two national hardware store chains have been honoured, and of course these stamps have been sold in their respective stores) but at least they don't ignore any rules against it. Because, well, there aren't any that prohibit such blatant shilling. The requirement that stamp subjects should "enhance the high regard for Canadian stamps and Canada in Canadian and international philatelic circles" ought to count for something, but when "Canadian Tire Money" is a national institution a Canadian Tire commemorative stamp isn't far behind.