Hi, Spider-Miles here, with a theory based on the Marvel logo in MCU and Non-MCU movies.
So, you may have seen the new Marvel Studios logo, if you haven't, it's pretty awesome, however, in The Avengers and Iron Man 3, this is the logo shown.
This logo is very similar to the new Marvel Studios logo, but it is without the "Studios" under it.
For Non-MCU films (The Wolverine most recently), it has the same logo used since Spider-Man in 2002.
Now this logo is in all non-MCU movies, except 2012's The Amazing Spider-Man, which has the same logo used in The Avengers and Iron Man 3.
Now here's where the theory starts, if you remember the news (rumour?) that the Oscorp Tower was to appear in The Avengers NYC skyline, but fell through, then you'll also remember all the speculation of Marc Webb's TASM movie being a part of the MCU, obviously this isn't the case... or is it?
I find it rather odd that The Amazing Spider-Man has that specific logo, used in Avengers and Iron Man 3, yet other non-MCU films released since then have had the original Marvel logo (this one doesn't have the box).
The way to differentiate MCU-set films from the others is to look at the logo, with the MCU films (pre-Avengers) having the word studios under the MARVEL logo, and with post-Avengers films, the new logo, but the fact that The Amazing Spider-Man had the same Marvel logo as The Avengers and Iron Man 3 just seems a little bit strange.
We won't find out if The Amazing Spider-Man series is a member of the MCU until -
1: some official confirmation
2: If TASM 2 has the new MS logo, the boxed one or the original.
3: References to the MCU.
Until then, feel free to comment and give your thoughts.
I've been Spider-Miles, and remember... don't eat yellow snow.