Anytime a large corporation builds a relationship with a small business, it is not uncommon for the folks downchannel in the large corporation to assume/equate that relationship as the large corporation acquiring the smaller company. I don't know if it is eqo or misinformation, but they can't seem to comprehend that corporate headquarters can build a relationship without it being an acquisition.
For three years I supported the large sales force of a large corporation. My job was to help this sales force sell a software package developed by a smaller, unaffiliated company. It was nothing more than a marketing partnership, not unlike the CC/GZF relationship. Yet the sales force consistently told their customers that corp had (or was going to) bought out the smaller company and that corp now owned the software. It seemed like half of my time was spent correcting sales people, calming down nervous customers, and rumor control.
Believe it when you see a filing.
jimh