I also apologize if you took this as a personal bashing.
It's more of an eye opener for other people that do these things without taking the proper steps to insure they don't get in trouble for doing something that someone else had no authority to give them to get a job done. Hence, why I said the customer's 'say-so'.
Following proper procedure happens all the time in our business and it seems to be getting tighter in the last few years. As rjp displayed the various rules... when following them to the letter, one doesn't need to get permission. It's when the designer/customer deviates from the guidelines and starts getting creative that trained eyes will notice it and usually its the person/company providing the printed media that gets the bulk of the blame.
We as sign makers have a responsibility to everyone to make sure what we are reproducing is following all the rules laid out by lawmakers, corporations and local businesses. Should we not follow the rules... why should anyone ... anywhere follow any rules ?? Why should anyone trust us if we pass the blame onto someone that doesn't know the rules ??
Again, as rjp mentioned... this is a learning experience for anyone reading this information for what it is. If you choose not to adhere to the written rules, then by all means... take your chances, but it doesn't do anyone any good to make excuses for something that is actually unacceptable or incorrect and then turn around and give others false hope in doing something wrong or illegal.