Dominican Republic launches new country brand: The Dominican Republic, The Republic of the World

[Dolores]

By Dolores Vicioso

For years, country marketers had considered changing the name of the Dominican Republic. The “republic” in the name just didn’t cut it, was the conclusion, time after time. Many have called the country, “The Dominican”, or just Dominicana. Then enter 2020, the year when anything and everything has happened and can happen.

President Luis Abinader, First Lady Raquel Arbaje and Vice President Raquel Peña, the cabinet in full and a dozen of the country’s most wealthy businesspeople, have stepped forward and done the unthinkable. The Dominican Republic is taking ownership of “republic.”

During a mega event held on 20 October 2020, the Dominican Republic’s new country brand was launched: “The Dominican Republic, the republic of republics, the Republic of the World.” The Ministry of Tourism has campaigned until now promoting the Dominican Republic “has...

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[Chirimoya]

Terrible choice. "Lo tiene todo"/"Has it all" worked well in both languages. "The Republic of the World" does not trip off the tongue in English and is pretty much meaningless in either language. The only saving grace is that it emphasises the country's correct name but that is incidental to tourism promotion.

 

[JD Jones]

"The brand stands on five pillars:

1. tourism
2. culture
3. exports
4. investment
5. citizenry
6. talents

Umm..........

 

[NanSanPedro]

"The brand stands on five pillars:

1. tourism
2. culture
3. exports
4. investment
5. citizenry
6. talents

Umm..........

I think it was 5 ± 20%

 

[windeguy]

They should definitely rethink this. Not good at all.

 

[Wheathead]

I read a travel magazine a few years ago that said Kubuli was the "Beer of the Dominican Republic". When I googled Kubuli, it said it was the the local beer in DOMINICA. Obviously the writer of the article never visited either country or sampled the beers.

I think there would be confusion if they said "dominicana"

 

[Chirimoya]

The logo is underwhelming and not entirely original.

Nueva polémica en torno al logo y el pago por implementar «RD Marca País» Ensegundos República Dominicana

Santo Domingo. Anoche el Gobierno Dominicano y la Comisión Multisectorial recientemente creada por el presidente Luis Abinader, presentaron a los dominicanos y al mundo la Estrategia de Marca País,…

ensegundos.do

 

[Caonabo]

It would be interesting to know how much the marketing consultants were paid to reinvent the wheel.

 

[Dolores]

The link posted above by Chirimoya indicates at least RD$1,316,219.88 + RD$32,906,247 was paid.

---

"El costo de dicho logo, según lo establece una licitación publicada por el Centro de Exportación e Inversión de la República Dominicana, fue realizado por la empresa Kraneo Publicidad, propiedad de Mike Alfonseca y tuvo un costo de 1,316,219.88 pesos.

El costo total por el trabajo de Diseño de la marca país República Dominicana y el plan estratégico para su implementación asciende a 32,906,247.00 pesos."

---
This is from Somos Pueblo

Contrato de Marca País lo adjudicó gobierno de Danilo por RD$32 millones y ahora llueven acusaciones por plagio de logo

SANTO DOMINGO.- Marca País, la estrategia con la que el gobierno busca posicionar a República Dominicana a nivel mundial en inversión, exportaciones, turismo, cultura y ciudadanía, fue un proceso d…

somospueblo.com

 

[Caonabo]

The link posted above by Chirimoya indicates at least RD$1,316,219.88 + RD$32,906,247 was paid.

---

"El costo de dicho logo, según lo establece una licitación publicada por el Centro de Exportación e Inversión de la República Dominicana, fue realizado por la empresa Kraneo Publicidad, propiedad de Mike Alfonseca y tuvo un costo de 1,316,219.88 pesos.

El costo total por el trabajo de Diseño de la marca país República Dominicana y el plan estratégico para su implementación asciende a 32,906,247.00 pesos."

---
This is from Somos Pueblo

Contrato de Marca País lo adjudicó gobierno de Danilo por RD$32 millones y ahora llueven acusaciones por plagio de logo

SANTO DOMINGO.- Marca País, la estrategia con la que el gobierno busca posicionar a República Dominicana a nivel mundial en inversión, exportaciones, turismo, cultura y ciudadanía, fue un proceso d…

somospueblo.com

Thank you for the clarification, and Chirimoya for the posted link.
For some reason the link did not originally show on my tablet.

 

[NALs]

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

 

[NALs]

Supposedly from where it was copied.

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

 

[Dolores]

Would be interesting to hear what the experts on copyright have to say about this case. My feeling is that, given the striking sameness, the Republic of the World designer could have taken from the Russian creation, but then sufficiently modified the design to create a new logo. Designers all the time do that.

The Dominican logo seems to dance, it has mobility to it. The Russian logo does not. The colors are quite different. Looking at them they seem to have the same root, but the design of the Dominican logo has done a take on it that makes it original. If you look at the letters, they seem to be dancing merengue.

 

[william webster]

The left image of the DR logo is a mirror image of the other one..... flipped, as it were

 

[Dolores]

MMM.... seeing it. The designer may have some explaining to do but still think the new composition makes it a valid new logo and not plagiarism.
Whatever, the designer should have tested it so no one could point this out. After all, it is a country brand. Not a good start.

For sure the experts will give their opinion soon.

 

[Dolores]

How Close Can a Logo Be and Not Be a Copyright Infringement?
By Jennifer Kiesewetter, J.D.
Copyright infringement occurs when a copyrighted work is distributed, reproduced, or displayed without the permission of its owner. One of the most common forms of infringement occurs when a company attempts to use a logo that looks similar or uses similar language as another copyrighted logo. If the competing logo creates confusion, then its owner could face legal action for infringement. However, infringement may not occur if the similar logo represents distinctly different products or the logo belongs to a company in a different geographic region.

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[windeguy]

Logo Schmogo, they hired the wrong person to do this and got a bad result.
This needs a do-over.

 

[JD Jones]

Logo Schmogo, they hired the wrong person to do this and got a bad result.
This needs a do-over.

I've seen this type of logo somewhere else as well but can't find it. It's not limited to these two. And the reason was because of one looking very similar to the other.
You can google "Abstract Logo Maker software" to get quite a few applications for this type of font

 

[Squat]

This logo looks ugly anyway. Can't believe they had to shell out so much money over it! probably the son of an important government guy...

 

[AlterEgo]

I've seen this type of logo somewhere else as well but can't find it. It's not limited to these two. And the reason was because of one looking very similar to the other.
But if you google "Logo Maker software" you get quite a few applications for this type of font