They say:

1. If we rotate the logo 90' we will come out of conflict with Vevendi

2. If we pay $800 we can have an exhaustive search done by TM experts
to see if the new orientation comes into conflict with someone new

3. For another $400 we can register the trademark which serves to time/
date stamp our first use of it to try to avoid conflicts in the future
or at least have a stronger claim when the next C&D comes (apparently
they will probably keep on coming but at least this way we can draw
our line in the sand).

Does anyone have any problem with.

1. Rotating the Logo 90'
2. Using $1200 of Techcrunch's donation on this exercise?

My personal opinion is that we go for it.