Uta,
This is a great improvement and you have moved to be the front runner! Using #78 as you guide, we'd love to see a few variations, for comparisons, of the shield. I totally understand you not being able to 'copy' another designers idea/property... but wanted you to look at it more as a guide.
Your font and color are great. If you can show us a few variations of the shield so that it does not appear so 'flat' if you will, that would be fantastic. Some ideas, different gradients of the orange, a more beveled shield....
I want you to win this... I just need to present all your ideas and concepts of #78 to my partners! Cant wait to see what you come up with!