[Ambassadors] Fwd: Blue Fedora

[Paul W. Frields]

On Fri, Jun 21, 2013 at 10:39:50AM -0500, inode0 wrote:
> On Fri, Jun 21, 2013 at 6:51 AM, Matt McKenzie
> <linuxknight at fedoraproject.org> wrote:
> > On Fri, Jun 21, 2013 at 3:32 AM, Nicu Buculei <nicu_fedora at nicubunu.ro>
> > wrote:
> >>
> >>
> >> Eduardo Javier Echeverria Alvarado wrote:
> >> > I'm sending this email behalf to Marcel, because each time it sends to
> >> > the list, the system does not accept
> >>
> >> I don't have handy a better link (the talks happened years ago) than
> >> https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Logo#What_about_the_red_or_blue_hats.3F
> >>
> >> The is, we were kindly asked by Red Hat not to use any hats (or fedoras)
> >> so we don't confuse the audience and don't dilute any trademark.
> >>
> >
> >
> > If I am reading this right, it sounds like it is talking about not using the
> > little blue fedora hat icon, or a blue tinted Shadowman(tm) for anything on
> > Fedora, ex. packages.
> > It doesn't talk about an Ambassador wearing an actual blue fedora for
> > events, on your person...
> > Or was that also discussed in these talks that happened years ago?
> >
> > The OP was talking about Ambassadors wearing actual blue fedora hats, not
> > about logos on packages or etc.
> 
> My recollection of the brand policy is no fedora hats, period. Surely
> you can understand how associating a fedora hat with the Fedora
> Project would cause brand confusion with our primary sponsor. That
> sort of confusion hurts both parties in the long run.
> 
> > I myself have a RedHat(tm) red fedora, which I wear to many Linux events, it
> > helps people to recognize me as a Linux user.  I am not a RedHat employee
> > (and I don't claim to be) though just an Ambassador.  I have often
> > considered a nice blue fedora to wear to these events.
> 
> If you are at a linux event we can assume you are a linux user with or
> without a hat. Anything associated with Red Hat, whether a fedora hat
> or an article of clothing with Shadowman visible, or a backpack from a
> Summit, etc. does make people think you work for Red Hat. I can't
> begin to count the number of times I have been asked if I work for Red
> Hat because I'm carrying a backpack or wearing a visor.
> 
> > As long as we don't infringe the trademark Shadowman logo, or tell people we
> > are officially affiliated with RedHat (unless an Ambassador is an employee,
> > but still wanting to keep Fedora its own entity), is there a problem wearing
> > a red or blue fedora to Linux events?  It isn't as though they have a
> > trademark on a person wearing a fedora in real life, just the Shadowman logo
> > and the name "RedHat".
> > If I am off track just let me know... :)
> 
> Well, I do think it is a problem. You can't tell everyone passing by
> you aren't affiliated with Red Hat and probably most will assume you
> are if you are wearing a red fedora.
> 
> I think rather than looking for some technical explanation in the logo
> guidelines we should use common sense and not cause misunderstandings
> and brand confusion by wearing fedora hats.
> 
> John

Well said by both you and Christoph.  I think the Fedora Ambassador
polo shirts are one of the best (maybe *the* best?) ways to affiliate
with Fedora.  They're blue, feature the logo in several places, and
don't clash with the hat guidance John and Christoph mentioned.

-- 
Paul W. Frields                                http://paul.frields.org/
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