the friends&family forms (or "room rate discount authorization form") used to be printed paper. An associate would go to human resources (or other designated department) and pick up a form for their friends or family who wanted to use the discounted rate. they then had to post the form to their friends so that they could present the original upon checkin.

the forms are now no longer on printed paper, but are available on the associates HR portal on Marriott's intranet. they fill in the info needed (Jane Smith is my friend) and the system generates a pdf.

the rate rules when you book are not always as updated, though. So you might meet the old "original form must be presented - no copies or faxes" on the rate rules. Just ignore it. a printed pdf in black/white is more than good enough...