Toyota Makes Massive Public Relations Error

Posted by Admin (Jason) in November 18th, 2008

TorrentFreak.com recently reported that lawyers representing Toyota motor company have contacted DesktopNexus.com (a site that offers free desktop wallpapers) and requested that they remove any and all images of Toyota products from their website. This request has struck a nerve (understandly so) in the internet community.

While we’re not privy to the details, it seems as if Toyota is trying to protect their image, their logo, and their product image with this action. We’ve certainly seen unscrupulous companies and individuals use Toyota’s stock product images of Toyota vehicles, slap their own name on the image, and claim it as their own. This practice is illegal and unacceptable, and Toyota has every right to put it to a stop.

Unfortunately, this request has a huge (hopefully unintended) consequence. Individual Toyota owners, who have uploaded images of their personal vehicles to this website, will also have to remove their desktop photos from the site. This is wrong. Individual owners who are proud of their Toyotas’ should have every right to upload an image of their vehicle to whatever site they choose.

We hope that Toyota will correct this oversight as soon as possible, and we hope that Toyota continues to embrace the internet community that projects it’s image and honors it’s products so well (including this website).

“TOYOTA” and “TUNDRA” are registered trademarks of Toyota Motor Corporation. TUNDRA is used in the title of this website solely to identify the subject of interest to the website. Toyota Motor Corporation, Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. and their affiliated companies are not responsible in any way for the contents of the site, which are solely the responsibility of the publisher. The contents of the website do not reflect the policy or opinions of Toyota Motor Corporation, Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. or any of Toyota’s affiliated companies. The website is not affiliated with, or endorsed, sponsored, or supported by, Toyota Motor Corporation, Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. or any of Toyota’s affiliated companies.

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11 comments

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Jeremy D Great Said in November 18th, 2008 @6:17 am

Toyota needs to put down the glass pipe, stop buying the vial of little rocks and THINK before pointing a PR gun at their head and pulling the trigger. If they stick to this stupidity I will never buy another Toyota EVER. It shows an absolute disreguard for logic and intelligence. It is only a matter of time before they pull a GM.

TXTee Said in November 18th, 2008 @3:36 pm

Interesting – I am shocked at the personal photos being tagged as well. There has to be more to the story, or one would at least hope so.

admin (Jason) Said in November 19th, 2008 @8:11 am

Jeremy – It doesn’t make much sense to request such a blanket action. As TXTee has said, there’s got to be more to this than what we’ve read.

Mickey Said in November 19th, 2008 @2:45 pm

Jeremy that’s an extreme response. Let’s see what’s going to happen first and let the smoking gun reveal the problem.

JEREMY THE TYRANT! Said in November 19th, 2008 @7:07 pm

Like I said “If they stick to this stupidity” I qualified my reply. The response is the only intelligent response that can be made if they choose to keep this line. If the government came out and said “We are invading Canada and Mexico “cause they are taking all our air from us”. It would be the same kind of mindboggeling action as what Toyota is doing. Clarity is what is needed and Toyota is taking too much time defusing this. I own my truck and the rights to photograph it and post it. I bought the truck with no stipulations in the contract. I can make money with it towing things and Toyota has no rights to that money. Same can be said of the PHOTOGRAPHS. This is pure insanity or greed. I am usally the first to comment a funny reply, thus the pipe comments but this is no longer funny. This is pure and simple an errosion of personal rights. I thought it would be a short term issue where Toyota comes out and reassures everyone that it is a big misunderstanding. Still waiting for that news. THAT is what bothers me. They are standing by their guns. Pay attention to what is happening around us. American auto makers going down the drain is BAD for all auto makers. Especially Toyota. The sweet taste of quality is easily overwhelmed by the stench of bad customer service.

admin (Jason) Said in November 19th, 2008 @8:48 pm

Jeremy – I understand your anger based on the fact that Toyota hasn’t responded to this. Still, I want to give them the benefit of the doubt here…at least until all the facts are in.

JEREMY Bringer of Great News Said in November 20th, 2008 @5:39 am

So am I, that’s why I haven’t sold off both of my Toyota’s and all my “yoda stock.

TXTee Said in November 24th, 2008 @7:38 am

Even so…selling their vehicle now doesn’t hurt them LOL….it just shows that you’d probably get great resale value out of the sale. They’ve already claimed your income. Stock is a different story but you’d prob lose in that too the way the market has been swinging.

Mickey Said in December 6th, 2008 @9:09 am

Jeremy the way I see what they are trying to do is stop a business using the 4 Tundra pics and probabaly the 4 SEMA Tundra pics from being sold as wallpaper for a profit to that business. I don’t see them going after all of us who have pics like myself in photobucket and my hard drive and showing them off. I can see they don’t want their trademark being used for profit without that company contacting them first to use the trademark.

art64 Said in January 21st, 2009 @10:20 pm

Toyota did the similar thing to TundraSolutions. Toyota did not want other sites to use the name Tundra. This was back in 2006. I remember the poll they had on what will be the new name of the site. Thankfully, the site retained the name. I have to research that thread to get the particulars.

admin (Jason) Said in January 22nd, 2009 @9:14 am

Art64 – I read about that. I don’t remember all the particulars, but the issue was that some Toyota dealer somewhere was upset. I would think that the use of the word “Tundra” falls under fair use – how else is TundraSolutions.com supposed to demonstrate what the website is about? If I search for “toyota tundra” and I see a link for “TruckSolutions”, I’m not sure if that’s a site I should visit. But if I see a link for “TundraSolutions”, then I’m interested. Considering how so much of a website’s traffic comes from search engines, not allowing a web site to use a name that’s so descriptive would be ridiculous. Good to hear that Toyota worked it all out – I think they’re a smart company most of the time.
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By the way, Toyota backed off of this demand if anyone didn’t already know that. The wallpaper issue is officially dead – I knew they’d get it right.