<div dir="ltr">I would argue as a reseller in the telecom space that UL / CSA / CE etc cert markings are extremely important and that some segments of consumers are extremely aware of them. In any case, unless you plan to ALWAYS sell your products direct to consumers, then you must consider the needs of the intermediate markets who rely on these certifications and the assurances underlying them as an important form of insurance against liability and litigation. Does OSHWA provide a service of any kind that provides a service to intermediate purchasers and resellers who would otherwise have to do the work themselves? Thinking export compliance, parts list verification, country of origin documentation as an example of a valuable outcome to some segment of possible intermediate purchasers...</div>
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<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Thu, Feb 28, 2013 at 1:43 PM, Tom Igoe <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:tom.igoe@gmail.com" target="_blank">tom.igoe@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<div style="word-wrap:break-word">Great question.<div><br></div><div>I'd say currently the mark is only for those in the club. It's a growing club, if sales are any indication, but it is still a club. How wide an audience does OSHWA want to reach?</div>
<div><br></div><div>There are certs that reach a mass audience and are still unknown to consumers, e.g. UL. That could be one model: still a club, but very widespread.</div><span class="HOEnZb"><font color="#888888"><div>
<br></div><div>t.</div></font></span><div class="im"><div><br></div><div><div><div>On Feb 28, 2013, at 1:38 PM, malcolm stanley wrote:</div><br><blockquote type="cite"><span style="border-collapse:separate;font-family:Helvetica;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:normal;line-height:normal;text-align:-webkit-auto;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:0px;font-size:medium"><div style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px">
Still unclear to me who the mark is for. If it is for end-user consumers then, for the forseeable future, the information density of the mark must be extremely limited, as most consumers will not be able to interpret it or know what it means. In this case the mark must provide clear direction, via script or visible lettering, that may be used to easily find the mark on the internet via search, so the meaning of the mark can be researched by the minimally curious..</div>
<div style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px"><br></div><div style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px">If the mark is only for those in the club who are versed in the secret signs and handshakes, and know where to look for it in the secret hiding place, then the information density may go up, as we can colour code etc to our hearts content. But then we possibly lose access to the mark as an advertising and marketing tool driving awareness of our efforts. </div>
<div style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px"><br></div><div style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px">Again, who is the target market for the mark?</div></span></blockquote></div><br></div></div></div>
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