Talk:Tolkien Google logo petition

Beren's The One Ring Logo

So far I really like Beren's design. It's simple, to the point, and well implemented. I can easily see something like it on Google's homepage. I was looking forever trying to find an image of the One Ring but in my head I kept looking for the exact circular shape which makes it impossible to see the inscription , the tilted idea is brilliant. --Hyarion 18:05, 4 May 2006 (EDT)

Question…

Before I sign up, I'd like to know if anyone has consulted with the Dark Tower (TE). Can Google ever act on this if it's considered copyright infringement? Don't get me wrong - I think it's a great idea - if it's possible.

I understand your concerns. TE is pretty picky but I believe it constitutes fair use as there is no money involved at all and its not hurting their image. Worst case scenario is Google asks us to take down the images, but in that case they have already seen the petition and a chance of their logo designer hearing about it is pretty good. --Hyarion 00:03, 5 May 2006 (EDT)

Is this really a suitable place for a petition?

The petition is hard to get to and signing it could be confusing for users inexperienced with wikis. Wouldn't it be better if you set up a petition on one of those free petition-specialised sites? I think that would get it better coverage. Also, using fake names won't do any good for the petition, I'm afraid.

P.S. I apologise for not being registered yet, I'm posting this in a hurry. - Denis Kasak

Denis, the petition is already for some weeks the Featured Article on the Main Page, so it's not really hard to find, IMHO. And adding a name to the petition isn't that hard, either, if you'd ask me.

The 'fake names' you object to are socalled screen names, which are widely used (as you might know) on on-line discussion/message boards. --Earendilyon 05:05, 16 May 2006 (EDT)

I know what screen names are, which is precisely why I mentioned it :) Maybe I've given off a wrong impression in my first post. What I meant to say was that using real first and last names could probably add quite a bit more credibility and weight to each of the signatures, not to mention the seriousness of the petition as a whole. -- Denis Kasak

Hello Denis. As Earendilyon mentioned the petition has been on the main page for weeks, and is present on numerous news sites. If one still cannot find it you can simply search for "Google" at the left search box and click the first link. I do agree with you that signing may be difficult for people not familiar with wikis. I've added a bit of text which informs the visitor to click Edit on the right, as well as to not worry about the alphabetical part. I hope this helps and thanks for your input. --Hyarion 09:09, 16 May 2006 (EDT)

It was probably a bit of an overstatement to say that the petition is hard to find. Concerning my other point, I was merely expressing worry that some people may find the complications of a wiki (with which they may not be familiar) to outweigh the benefit this petition may bring. I would not want to lose such people due to the system because I'd like this petition to be heard just as much as you :) I hope I am wrong and this won't stop people from signing. Still, kudos to you Hyaron; the text you added is a great improvement. Well, I'm off to registering and signing. -- Denis Kasak

Denis, concerning your point on screen names: that's how the Internet (often) works; people are more known by their screen names than by their RL names. Google is part of the 'net, so they should know that and accept that (IMHO). If not: boo to Google! --Earendilyon 15:34, 16 May 2006 (EDT)

Agreed, screen names are indeed what most people use when online. They are, however, not used exclusively as a method of personal identification on the 'net. My stance on this matter is probably biased since I'm an old Usenet git who prefers using real names instead of screen names :-) On a more objective note, what concerned me is that Google might decide that screen names, as there are many duplicates and it is more difficult to decide whether it is a genuine name, are an invalid method of proving the number of people that actually signed the petition. Still, I am probably delving into the matter much more than necessary. After all, it is not too much of a problem on Google's side to make something like this come true. I must say I'm looking forward to 3rd of January! Oh, one more thing. How will the logo be chosen? Denis Kasak 16:17, 16 May 2006 (EDT)

Hello Denis, I definitely agree, for a formal petition real names possibly with a unique IP would definitely be more sufficient. To be honest however, when I came up with the idea it was more for just a bit of fun in seeing a Tolkien-Google logo, not that we as the Tolkien community were outraged by the fact that there had not yet been a Tolkien logo and that we should force Google to do so, it is all just for fun. That being said the petition has certainly generated more interest than expected and I definitely think we should give Google an email in a couple months just as a friendly reminder that a Tolkien logo would be cool. I doubt they would "choose" a logo or even respond to the email as they probably get this sort of thing a lot. But there's always the small chance they would take notice and follow through, and the more signatures, however unformal they may be, the higher possibility. Thanks for your input! --Hyarion 17:51, 16 May 2006 (EDT)

It may help to put a link up or an announcement at other Tolkien sites, the lotr website in particular. I will leave this to more experienced contributors, not wanting to make a mess of anything--Quidon88 21:01, 18 July 2006 (EDT)

Hello Quidon88, which LotR website did you have in mind? We tried all the news websites but unfortunately they all refused as they didn't like the thought of linking to a competing website :( We still have plenty of time before the big day however and maybe with such a large amount of signatures they will begin to change their mind. Don't worry you could never make a mess of anything, wikis are amazing as anything can be undone quite easily :) --Hyarion 21:39, 18 July 2006 (EDT)

Did it Work?

I looked at the Google homepage last night, shortly after toasting the Professor, and I did not see anything. Did I perhaps miss it, or were our efforts for naught? In case you are wondering, I drank the last of the chocolate milk (that was all I had left in the refrigerator) in my high school graduation mug. To the Professor!!!!--Quidon88 12:36, 4 January 2007 (EST)

I don't think so. If it did, I didn't notice. And it's not on the logos page.