DataPortability cofounder Chris Saad, in the face of a nasty cease and desist letter over their logo, took our (and others’) advice - don’t waste time fighting it. Treat this as a press opportunity and hold a new logo contest instead.
That’s exactly what they’re doing. Third parties are lining up to donate prizes, and an iPhone is already on the list. We’ll throw in a sponsorship spot on TechCrunch for a week for free, too, and point to the winner’s website. Whoever wins will have the thanks of a grateful community, and likely a lot of new business coming their way.
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Expecting a very elegant logo — as it’s really too important for the industry (and users alike!)
Thanks Mike, as we say in UK… you’re a diamond geezer.
But really, thanks to you and everyone @ Techcrunch for this!
I can’t believe I had found this before Techcrunch
Stupid Redhat (kidding I <3 Linux).
Try stealing the logo from ThinkTank, one of my 1980s product.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/s.....284454301/
I don’t think Symantec (the company we sold out to) will sue.
The four-way arrows show that data is moving every which way.
Hey Mike I know I’m on your shitlist, but what the fuck, for old times’ sake.
The new logo could show a dog peeing on a red hat. Just make sure you dont infringe on the Sirius logo.
i think i got this one with slap on redhat’s wrist to boot… and come on.. you can’t have dave winer on your s***list..
Whoa, some nice prizes there! Good way to handle such a BS claim as well.
Thanks for the coverage on the contest and the prize donation, it’s awesome to get community support like this as a member of DP. Really makes the work worthwhile.
Please digg the original contest entry here: http://digg.com/design/DataPor.....of_Red_Hat
Thanks for the great support everyone - we have a pretty impressive prize lineup now!
Current prize list:
* iPhone from Jive Software
* Weeks ad space on Techcrunch! Thanks to Michael Arrington over at Techcrunch
* A Month ad space on either CenterNetworks (www.centernetworks.com) or
HTMLCenter (www.htmlcenter.com) thanks to Allen Stern
* $100 from Bub.blicio.us thanks to Brian Solis
* $100 of Compete Credits to get access to premium reports thanks to Jay Meattle at Compete.
* $500 and a “I’d sync that” T-shirt from Plaxo thanks to John McCrea
* An A0 Trendmap from Information Architects
2nd and 3rd Prize will be:
* An A0 Trendmap from Information Architects
I really want to try that contest
then my work can become globally recognized
That´s great since I´m from Ecuador (Southamerica)
thanks for the info .. I´m signing up
Hey , nice idea and a business too…….. for the participants as well for the promoters.
Happy.
sewwcc
http://www. i-guide .ro
That is very encouraging news for readers. Bravo.
http://tekno-world.blogspot.com
Great stuff Chris, I hope all goes well in your search for a new logo. Great job also on the behalf of TechCrunch, you’re the best!
http://whatshottoday.com
Why do people want to demonize Red Hat over this?
They already give all their source code away, the only thing they have is their trademarks.
Take that away and they have nothing unique to sell.
just partner up with the department of homeland security, combine real ID, open ID, and dataportability into one seamless database, save the feds some money, increase the transparency of what is going to happen anyway, and let the logo be whatever….
@16 - I disagree with you. But I cannot say “bad things” here anymore, so you’re lucky…
As Tantek Çelik would say “Just use existing, open standards!” ; )
Like this:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/r.....592496@N21
I am finding a lot of irony in Data Portability using a custom ( proprietary ) logo when a perfectly good open standard already exists. AIGA is giving this symbol away, why not use it? I just added the bleached green color from the Microformats logo.
nice post
http://www. i-guide .ro
Way to go Chris. Nice way to react to a bully.
Redhat is tired. DataPortability is wired.
@18,
I’m not lucky. Arrington banned me about 18 times this year, plus E. Schonfeld personally accused me of being high on dope. Believe me, I know what they do when you disagree with them.
I’m wondering why every one here is so eager to see support for some one who quite blatently stole work that didnt belong to him ?? !!
I also wonder if any of the companies offering prizes for this motley crue(quality band) would react in quite the same way if it was any of their work stolen ? I’m sure they’d not be so keen for a spot of free publicity then would they ?
Adolf
ps. i’ll donate a pair of my well soiled underwear to the prize list if you wish, although the winner would accept at their own risk.
It’s negative publicity for Red Hat, that’s all. If I was them, I would have at least offered a reward like the others. Twisting arms is not civilized. Anyway, Ubuntu rocks!
@23
Mightbe that’s their success point.. to be controversial (being another way to say only want to be correct.) The problem is, techcrunch, much like facebook, is addictive. I’m learning the hows as to come less often.
This is a good way to avoid a Public Relations disaster. Wonder if I have the time to do up a logo for them.
interesting post
interesting indeed
http://www. i-guide .ro
I don’t approve of design contests like this for the reasons described in this article:
http://www.no-spec.com/articles/design-contests/
I run an art community where people sometimes post similar design contests…more often than not a member will point them to no-spec’s website.
Not that I think any intentional harm is meant by running these types of contests, I just think they are bad practice, it is better to pay everyone who does work for you.
techcrunch is gay
Check out http://www.logosauce.com if you want to run a logo competition.
2500+ designers from around the globe.
Check out my submission here