If Google TRULY supported FIRST...

[KTorak]

Speaking of Google, we didn't get any cool toys from them this year...

[Nuttyman54]

Originally Posted by Ricksta121

Google sponsors FIRST. Other groups are not sponsored by Google.

actually this is not true. The Google Foundation (http://google.org/) sponsors many organizations. In this case, there is a very real possibility of all these organizations asking for their logo or special recognition. This is a very good reason for Google NOT do this, however it shouldn't stop us from asking.

Spamming Dennis Hwang is probably also not the solution. He gets many many emails a day, and is almost certainly not authorized to do this.

[VanMan]

Sounds like a good idea. I don't know if it could happen but I like it.

[DonRotolo]

Originally Posted by robotcanuck1676

I know at least for our team (1676), when we were sponsored by Mercedes-Benz USA, they just waived the usage forms and everything for us.

Actually, if you remember, we had to do some things over because the logo was not used correctly, but they were gracious enough to foot the bill, since the expense was significant.

MBUSA does NOT own the rights to the logo, so they wouldn't and couldn't approve any non-standard usages.

For a company, their logo is one of the most important things they own, and any non-standard usage sets a legal precedent that dilutes the logo's value and defendability.

Don

[KelliV]

I think Google does a lot for FIRST. Last year they GAVE each team a camera. To some, that was the only camera they had. Thanks to google they could document their progress. This year they are google is probably helping more behind the scenes.
Sure people like Mr. Kamen, Dr. Flowers, and FedEx are visible, but there are so many behind the scenes companies and people that do a lot that is not visable this year, Google seems to be one of them.
If you ever find yourself doubting Google's support, type FIRST into google and see what you get. That is definatly some great support.
-Kelli

[Graham Donaldson]

Originally Posted by Don Rotolo

Actually, if you remember, we had to do some things over because the logo was not used correctly, but they were gracious enough to foot the bill, since the expense was significant.

MBUSA does NOT own the rights to the logo, so they wouldn't and couldn't approve any non-standard usages.

For a company, their logo is one of the most important things they own, and any non-standard usage sets a legal precedent that dilutes the logo's value and defendability.

Don

Thank you for the clarification, Don. To be completely honest, I was going off of what I remembered another team member saying, so I was obviously wrong. I think (and I think everyone recognizes this) that in the end, it will end up coming down to what FIRST and Google work out. Unless there is a link to the FIRST site somewhere on the page, I have the feeling most people will not recognize what it is and just brush it off. So, it's not just the logo, but the other web-linking issues as well (we know all about that, don't we, Don- ).