Tim Armstrong Not into AOL Logo Alterations

Doesn’t sound like there was a whole lot of illumination in the interview that took place today between new AOL chief Tim Armstrong and Advertising Age editor Jonah Bloom at the 4As Leadership Conference, but one thing is clear: no outside interloper is to futz with AOL’s logo. (BTW, the 4As used to be called the American Association of Advertising Agencies, but as of today is called just the 4As. I’m relieved.)

This story in Ad Age says Armstrong “hinted at disapproval” of a recent tweak of the AOL logo so that it included TurboTax’s famous check mark in AOL’s “O”. He said:

I don’t know how that decision was made, but I’d like to find out. … There are lines to be drawn around brand monetization.

Of course, the irony is that his former employer, Google, is famous for futzing with its logo. But I guess it’s one thing to futz with a logo to pay homage to someone like Eric Carle (above). It’s another to take money for it.

On a more serious note, there’s a rumor out there that Time Warner will make clear its intentions for AOL during tomorrow’s earnings call, as in will Time Warner finally get rid of it? Hey, remember when the company was called AOL Time Warner? Talk about futzing.