Igloo Tag Policies

The Igloo Tag Program is administered by the Inuit Art Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting Inuit art, artists and culture in Canada and around the world. The IAF owns the Igloo Tag Program and the Igloo Tag Trademark. Only people or organizations accepted into the Igloo Tag Program can use the Igloo Tag Trademark.

“The IAF” or “Us” or “We” or “Our” refers to the Inuit Art Foundation.

“You” or “Your” refers to the person the IAF accepts into the Igloo Tag Program in its letter of acceptance.

“Inuit Artist” refers to a Canadian artist of Inuit origin who makes Inuit Art.

For the purposes of this Policy, “Inuit Art” is only artwork, including sculpture, painting, drawings, prints, textile art, collages, installations, conceptual art, crafts, ceramics, jewellery, and fashion goods (like shoes, boots, hats, scarves, socks, gloves, mittens) which are made by an Inuit Artist. If we expand what Inuit Art includes, we will let You know. 

Important: You must have bought or obtained the products mentioned above directly from an Inuit Artist, or be an Inuit Artist who makes these products, for them to be considered Inuit Art.

1. Categories of the Igloo Tag Program

You can only use the Igloo Tag Trademark according to the Igloo Tag Program category You applied for and the IAF accepted You into. There are 3 categories:

i. Artist Association or Non-Profit Organization license: If You are an artist association or non-profit organization that wishes to provide Igloo Tags to your Inuit Artist members, You should apply under this license.

ii. Inuit Art Retailer license: If You buy Inuit Art directly from Inuit Artists and sell it to the public, You should apply under this license.

iii. Inuit Art Distributor license: If You buy Inuit Art directly from Inuit Artists and sell it to stores, galleries, etc. to sell to the public, You should apply under this license.

2. When can You use the Igloo Tag Trademark

• Starting on the date You are accepted into the Igloo Tag Program by the IAF (this is the “Start Date”), You can attach tags displaying the Igloo Tag Trademark to Inuit Art.

• Starting on the Start Date, You can also display the Igloo Tag Trademark in advertising materials, and on Your online and social media profiles, to promote and market Inuit Art You have tagged.

3. Using the Igloo Tag Trademark:

• These are the only versions of the “Igloo Tag Trademark” that You may use:

• Your use of the Igloo Tag Trademark must comply with the IAF’s Policies and any changes to those Policies shown on the IAF’s website. The current Policies are:
  
  (i) this Policy A – Igloo Tag Trademark Use Policy;
  (ii) Policy B – Tag and Marketing Policy; and
  (iii) Policy C – Secondary Market Inuit Art Certification Policy and Declaration

• The IAF may update these Policies from time-to-time, or make new ones in the future. The IAF will put all changes to the Policies on its website.

• You will not claim that You are the owner of the Igloo Tag Trademark, or link it to Your business or own reputation. The IAF is and remains the only owner of the Igloo Tag Trademark, and is only permitting You to use the Igloo Tag Trademark in certain ways.

4. What it costs

• There is a range of costs depending on the type of license that you are granted. Currently, the Artist Association or Non-Profit Organization license costs $250 annually; the Inuit Art Retailer license costs $500 annually; the Inuit Art Distributor license costs $1,000 annually and Permission to attach/replace Igloo Tag tags to Secondary Market Inuit costs $250.00 annually.

• In the future, the IAF may charge You additional fees to continue participating in the Program, or change the fee structure and/or the fee amounts. The IAF will let You know before it makes changes to your fees, and You will be able to stop participating in the Program if You do not want to pay any additional fees.

• If You do not agree to pay any fees which are charged by the IAF, You must stop using the Igloo Tag Trademark. If the IAF tells You to stop using the Igloo Tag Trademark, there are certain actions You must take. Please read Section 10 of this Policy to learn what these actions are.

5. Letting others use the Igloo Tag Trademark

• The IAF may let others participate in the Program, including permitting use of the Igloo Tag Trademark at the same time as You. The IAF does not need to tell You who else it permits to participate in the Program or lets use the Igloo Tag Trademark.

• You are not allowed to let anyone else use the Igloo Tag Trademark.

6. Controlling use of the Igloo Tag Trademark

• You must always follow all laws, rules and regulations when using the Igloo Tag Trademark.

• When requested, You will provide the IAF with samples of tags which You are making/using, and any of Your advertising or marketing materials which display the Igloo Tag Trademark.

• The IAF may visit Your home, office, or place of business to check if Your use of the Igloo Tag Trademark complies with the Policies. The IAF will give You at least 1 day notice before Our visit, and only visit on business days.

• If the IAF identifies any deficiencies with Your use of the Igloo Tag Trademark, You will have 10 business days from the date of Our notice to remedy these deficiencies. Otherwise, the IAF can tell You to stop using the Igloo Tag Trademark and/or prevent You for participating in the Igloo Tag Program.

7. ID Number

• If You are assigned a unique identification number (this is an “ID Number”) You may print it on the Igloo Tag. See the IAF’s “Policy B – Tag and Marketing Policy” for how to do this.

• You must not use Your ID Number with anything that is not Inuit Art.

8. How long You can use the Igloo Tag Trademark for and when You must stop

• You can use the Igloo Tag Trademark for 12 months from the Start Date (this is the “Stop Date”).

• The IAF may let You use the Igloo Tag Trademark for 1 additional year after the initial Stop Date for an additional annual fee. If this is the case, the IAF will let You know in writing.

9. Stopping use of the Igloo Tag Trademark

• Generally, the IAF can tell You to stop using the Igloo Tag Trademark with 60 days prior written notice.

• But, if You do not pay the IAF’s fees or if You do not use the Igloo Tag Trademark according to the Policies, the IAF only needs to give You 10 days prior written notice to stop Your use of the Igloo Tag Trademark.

• If You do not want to participate in the Igloo Tag Program (including using the Igloo Tag Trademark) anymore for any reason, You must tell us in writing.

10. What to do if You must stop using the Igloo Tag Trademark or are not participating in the Igloo Tag Program:

• If you stop using the Igloo Tag Trademark and/or participating in the Igloo Tag Program, You must:

  • not put any more Igloo Tags on any Inuit Art in your gallery, warehouse, etc.

  • destroy all marketing materials You have showing the Igloo Tag Trademark;

  • not distribute any marketing materials with the Igloo Tag Trademark; and

  • delete all references, pictures and posts (including in catalogues, on Facebook, Twitter, social media or web stores) to the Igloo Tag Trademark.

The IAF will provide You with hi-resolution images of the Igloo Tag Trademark for You to use attached to Inuit Art, or with marketing and promoting materials (including for Your website and social media accounts) related to Inuit Art. For the purposes of this Policy:

“Inuit Artist” refers to a Canadian artist of Inuit origin who makes Inuit Art.

For the purposes of this Policy, “Inuit Art” is only artwork, including sculpture, painting, drawings, prints, textile art, collages, installations, conceptual art, crafts, ceramics, jewellery, and fashion goods (like shoes, boots, hats, scarves, socks, gloves, mittens) which are made by an Inuit Artist. If we expand what Inuit Art includes, we will let You know.

Important: You must have bought or obtained the products mentioned above directly from an Inuit Artist, or be an Inuit Artist who makes these products, for them to be considered Inuit Art.

PERMITTED USE OF THE IGLOO TAG TRADEMARK

1. On Igloo Tags

You may print and use the Igloo Tag Trademark on tags, provided You comply with the following requirements:

• Tags must only be attached to Inuit Art.

• Tags are designed to be folded in half with only the Igloo Tag Trademark appearing on the front cover of the tag.

• Tag dimensions must be at least 7.62 x 5.08 (length x width) cms in size.

• The Igloo Tag Trademark must be clearly printed on the front of the tag and must be at least 3.5 x 4.2 (length x width) cms in size.

• The Igloo Tag Trademark must appear separately from Your ID Number and from any other marks, words, slogans or designs appearing on the tag.
  
  Example:

• Not Acceptable:

• You must not alter, modify or change the way the Igloo Tag Trademark looks in any way.

• You must include the following information on the inside of the tag prior to attaching the tag to Inuit Art.

  • The following phrases in English and French: “HANDMADE BY A CANADIAN INUK ARTIST/FAIT À LA MAIN PAR UN ARTISTE INUK DU CANADA”;

  • The following trademark notices in English and French: “TM licensed by the Inuit Art Foundation/MC autorisée par la Inuit Art Foundation.”

  • Name of the Inuit Artist. This should be labelled as “Artist/Artiste”;

  • Community where the Inuit Artist made the Inuit Art. This should be labelled as “Community/lieu d’origine”;

  • The year the Inuit Art was made. This should be labelled as “Date”; and

  • The name, number and/or description given to the Inuit Art by the Inuit Artist. This should be labelled as “Description &/ou No.”;

• Igloo Tag Trademarks attached to Inuit Art must look exactly like this:

• You must not make any changes or variations to these versions of the Igloo Tag Trademark.

• You must only print the Igloo Tag Trademark in black and white, and only in the above colour combination. No colour “versions”, reversals, shadings or renderings are permitted.

2. In marketing and promotional materials

• If You use or print the Igloo Tag Trademark in Your marketing materials, You must also include the following notice at the bottom:

  English:

  The Igloo Tag Marks and all related marks are trademarks owned by the Inuit Art Foundation. Used under license.

  French:

  Les marques Igloo et les marques connexes sont des marques de commerce détenues par la Inuit Art Foundation. Utilisées sous licence.

• You must separate the Igloo Tag Trademark from any other marks, words, slogans or designs in Your marketing materials. (See examples of what is acceptable, above).

• You must not use the words “Canada Inuit art” “art Inuit Canada” or “Canada Inuit art Inuit” in any meta-tags, hidden text, domain names, email addresses, hashtags or as part of sentences, without the IAF’s prior written consent.

• You must not use the Igloo Tag Trademark in a way that is malicious or harmful to the IAF or to Inuit Art. If You do, the IAF will ask that You take all such material down.

• You must use the Igloo Tag Trademark as-is and without changing it in any way.

• When used online and if possible, please hyperlink images of the Igloo Tag Trademark to the IAF’s Igloo Tag Trademark page.

• When You use the Igloo Tag Trademark in social media, You must link the “post”, including any photos of the Igloo Tag Trademark, to at least one of the IAF’s social media accounts:

  • Facebook: @inuitartfoundation

  • Instagram: @inuitartfoundation

  • Twitter: @InuitArtFdn

  • Using any hashtags, links or other social media information as provided by the (we will provide You with a list of these hashtags).

• You must only print the Igloo Tag Trademark in black and white, and only in the above combination. No colour versions, reversals, shadings or renderings are permitted.