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Toyota Claims Ownership of Fan Wallpapers

torrentfreak.com — Motoring giant Toyota is normally ahead of the curve when it comes to technology. The company is known for innovations like the Synergy Drive in the Prius, as well as long term reliability. However, if you take pride in your Toyota, and have it as a wallpaper on your system, Toyota doesn’t want you sharing.

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  • Rogem002, on 11/14/2008, -2/+95I think toyota decided to shoot itself in the foot here. I hope the lawyer gets fired for being such a n00b.
    • Seidoger, on 11/16/2008, -0/+3I was looking at some of those pictures:
      It reminds me of those movie 'FMV's people do on YouTube.. (I hate them a lot as they're stupid most of the time)
      They put the picture of the car, and associate it with ton of random stuff, names, events, some that Toyota may not want to be associated with.

      I think it's a foolish move too, just playing devil's advocate here.
    • sh4rkb1t3, on 11/16/2008, -0/+2Who would put a picture of a ***** toyota on their desktop, when it's just as easy to get a picture of a cool car?
    • ryusen, on 11/18/2008, -0/+0yeah f**K the RIAA!! oh wait...
  • Junior612, on 11/14/2008, -0/+62From freeculturenews.com:

    "Toyota sent DesktopNexus a DMCA takedown notice, telling them to take down all their images. They are refusing to say which images they must take down, and asking them to take them all off."

    WTF?
    • Seidoger, on 11/15/2008, -0/+3Maybe not having a DMCA in the first place..
      But yeah, WTF..
  • cobracommander, on 11/15/2008, -1/+38These corporate giants need to stop being so stingy and realize that this is helping them more than it is hurting. Nothing like free advertising/brand awareness.

    • thescimitar, on 11/16/2008, -0/+1There's still a lot of old marketing wonks out there who are convinced that a command and control brand model is still possible in this era.
  • tj111, on 11/15/2008, -9/+77I don't care what you say about Toyota, their new Aygo looks awesome http://i38.tinypic.com/2hyxwfm.jpg
    • NicoNicoNico, on 11/15/2008, -1/+22Careful, can't go around spreading images of their brand, they may get you.

      (Honestly, this is just stupid. It's called fandom! If the execs don't get that, then their brand deserves to die.)
    • Sil369, on 11/15/2008, -0/+16cool theyre seeling lego pixel cars nows
    • NegativeDigg, on 11/15/2008, -2/+5For those who don't know how to look at pixelated images or video, step back about 2-3 feet and make your eyes blurry. Worked for me when they tried to blurr nudity on the girls gone wild infomercials.
    • Jeffler, on 11/15/2008, -3/+4Joke Skip: http://m3susanto.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/toyot ...
    • redbinary, on 11/15/2008, -0/+0HEY!! tj111!!! Those pixels resemble a car...Toyota makes cars...you better remove that image or risk of being sued.
    • BlatheringIdiot, on 11/16/2008, -0/+1Very aerodynamic!
  • cobracommander, on 11/15/2008, -14/+3Weird. When I re-arrange the letters it spells "Gayo"

    edit: damn you digg!!!
  • Chasey, on 11/15/2008, -0/+10that's just stupid of them....
  • antzology, on 11/15/2008, -2/+34How the ***** could this even harm their business? Incredibly stupid move.
    • wastern, on 11/15/2008, -2/+1I understand companies wanting to protect their name so their brand name doesn't become the generic name, rollarblade and kleenex are a couple examples of that. But that isn't going to happen with cars ever. I don't see what they're worried about
  • GUNIT42, on 11/15/2008, -1/+15That's crazy!! People who use Toyotas as their wallpaper are actually HELPING their brand/image. Toyota should be thanking Desktop Nexus.
  • h377r1d3r, on 11/15/2008, -2/+9It sounds to me like an Apple story, only for motoring, that is full of ***** and full of advertising company that creates image of being cool, reliable, the best you can have, but on the other hand stomps on a little man.

    Good thing, that I don't own, and never will own a Toyota vehicle :)
    • NicoNicoNico, on 11/15/2008, -2/+2I know. I'm not going to buy that Prius I wanted now.
    • naldwell, on 11/15/2008, -4/+3I own an AE101 Corolla and an AE86 Trueno and my next car will probably be a JZA80 Supra. Toyota makes the best cars in the world regardless of their IP follies...
      • antonio97b, on 11/15/2008, -1/+1Yeah toyota quality like the MK IV supra making 1200 hp and hitting 11s on the drag strip.
  • Thuktun, on 11/15/2008, -0/+46http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streisand_effect

    "The Net interprets censorship as damage and routes around it."
    http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/John_Gilmore
  • hamobu, on 11/15/2008, -2/+8We really need to redefine ownership as applying only to material possessions. You should not be able to order people what they can do with an image of your product.
  • renesisx, on 11/15/2008, -4/+45***** Toyota!
    (and the RIAA)
    (and the MPAA)
  • j1ggy, on 11/15/2008, -3/+20For the same reason I'll never buy another Metallica CD, I will never buy a Toyota.
    • 2uantuM, on 11/16/2008, -4/+1wait, the next time you go car shopping you're going to think to yourself:

      "Man, even though this car might be the best thing I can get for my money, I'm not going to buy one because they sent DMCA for desktop wallpapers"

      Pretty moronic if you ask me.

      • j1ggy, on 11/16/2008, -0/+1You must do a lot of shopping at Wal-Mart.
    • se1zure, on 11/16/2008, -2/+1you are an idiot.
  • DrLeePhD, on 11/15/2008, -1/+9rabble rabble rabble don't buy toyotas
    They just don't make anything I really like right now.
    who would want a toyota wallpaper?
  • rockon4life45, on 11/15/2008, -4/+16Toyota has fans?
  • Ne007, on 11/15/2008, -0/+16yeh...who wants free advertisement anyways....
  • dafragsta, on 11/15/2008, -1/+22This is why copyright as we know it is wrong. It can't even be fairly interpreted by lawyers in cases which have no precedent of IP ownership. You can't copyright photos you didn't take and you can't stop people from photographing their cars.
  • BinaryFragger, on 11/15/2008, -0/+32Right, great business strategy.

    "Somebody likes our products.... sue them!!"
  • TremorX, on 11/15/2008, -1/+7Every manufacturer has tried this at some point. Recently it was Ford telling members of a Classic Mustang club they weren't allowed to use pictures of their own cars in a club calendar.

    It's stupid, but I still love my '83 Land Cruiser.
  • apexracing, on 11/15/2008, -1/+12Fan loyalty is being punished here. Hello, Toyota, these are the people who buy your cars...
  • nurbsenvi, on 11/15/2008, -3/+11Who the ***** wants to have Toyota wallpaper anyway?
    it's like putting up a picture of local accountant on the wall instead of Jessica Alba in bikini.

    P.S I drive Camry by the way.
    • feliks2, on 11/15/2008, -4/+1Driving a camry is definately worse than having a Toyota wallpaper, especially considering the fact that Toyota has made, and still makes, some pretty nice cars. The Camry isn't really one of those cars.
      • ahmedalhani, on 11/15/2008, -1/+0yes the camry is so fat and ugly gosh total failure
      • nurbsenvi, on 11/15/2008, -0/+0Do you think I want to drive Camry?
  • Sil369, on 11/15/2008, -0/+10expect to see hauls of new toyota wallpapers uploaded everywhere on wallpaper sites just to spite them. gotta love it :)
    • PopcornDave, on 11/16/2008, -0/+1Hopefully with multiple goatsees thrown in for good measure.
  • Khast, on 11/15/2008, -0/+12Eh, this is much like Ford's claiming copyright of all images with their vehicles or likeness from a couple months ago.

    Corporations don't understand "Free Advertising" very well, do they?
  • MacHarborGuy, on 11/15/2008, -0/+2this does make me wonder what will happen if companies start complaining and issuing DMCA takedowns of the iTunes Store iPhone Apps that use copyright and/or trademarked imagery. There is a PSP walkthrough/cheat search app that has a background image of Cloud from FF7 Advent Children promo material, and the first thing I thought was "I hope Sony doesn't get on that developers ass over the use of that image"
  • stealthspc, on 11/15/2008, -2/+17Just another "I'm a huge company and I can do whatever I please".

    ***** you Toyota.
  • GordonClass, on 11/15/2008, -1/+3What if everone downloads the images and posts them to their own sites? They going to go for a blanket DMCA to cover the whole internet. lol
  • spish, on 11/15/2008, -1/+3Toyota hasn't made an interesting vehicle since the days of the Supra and the MR2 (spyder notwithstanding). Anyone remember the Corolla GTS, the rear wheel drive one? What a fun car! Honestly, I cannot for the life of me understand why they are the worlds largest auto company. I hope, especially now, that this tactic resonates loudly amongst prospective buyers and they go elsewhere... like to the US and help out a few companies who are down on their luck. Oh, what am I saying, ***** them too. They dug their hole, let them sleep in it. They all need a lesson or two in customer relations.
    • zakatov, on 11/15/2008, -0/+4"Honestly, I cannot for the life of me understand why they are the worlds largest auto company."

      Same reason Dell is the #1 PC manufacturer: cheap, boring products sell.
  • CYR1X, on 11/15/2008, -6/+7This really isn't an issue and shouldn't be news, many companies do this.
    • cobracommander, on 11/15/2008, -0/+3Not news? You must be new to digg.
    • Seidoger, on 11/15/2008, -1/+2In fact he isn't.

      And I totally agree.
      People are quick to jump to conclusion. Lots of "***** Toyota" without checking out the mater in detail here.
      • javaroast, on 11/16/2008, -0/+2***** Toyota. I checked the details and they are so off on this one it's not even worth discussing.
  • dupswapdrop, on 11/15/2008, -4/+3guess we need to stop buying rice burners.
    • slowth, on 11/15/2008, -1/+2Suggest a decent domestic alternative, and I'll take your suggestion to the bank. Last domestic car I owned was an absolute nightmare, while my current rice burner has given me 5 completely trouble-free years.
  • RizzoFrank, on 11/15/2008, -3/+1i ruff
    i ruse
  • ucccft, on 11/15/2008, -7/+1To all who buy Overrated crappy foreign cars: THANKS!
    Hope you all get laid-off and end up living in homeless shelter, eating at the soup kitchen.
    Now that would be true justice.
    • pak314, on 11/15/2008, -0/+3Why would people buy foreign cars if there were really crappy?
  • NotReally91, on 11/15/2008, -0/+1good thing Toyota doesn't have any avid fans.
  • teambosun, on 11/15/2008, -4/+1It's not that they don't like fans. They're just worried about public using their name and logo in bad taste.
  • netneutrality, on 11/15/2008, -0/+3Tsk. Yet another company using frivolous lawsuits to get the bloggers riled up as a method of viral advertising.
  • pencilneck, on 11/15/2008, -1/+5Toyota is far from the first to do this kind of stupid *****. VW has done it. Ford tried to stop some "black mustang owner's club" from selling a calender of club member's black mustangs, claiming copyright of the customer's cars.

    If there is a fan site, embrace it. I have my doubts any large company has ever lost it's trademark rights due to fan sites. It isn't like the fan sites are passing off bogus parts under the brand name, or trying to mislead people into thinking that said fan site is an official [insert brand here] web site.

    Hammering down on clients is not good business.
    • smonty, on 11/17/2008, -0/+1Ford fully supports owner and enthusiast efforts. The Black Mustang Club situation had a happy ending, if you'd like to check it out: http://www.boingboing.net/2008/01/25/black-mustang ...

      This is further proven out by Ford using a Creative Commons license on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/fordmotorcompany/

      Scott Monty
      Global Digital Communications
      Ford Motor Company
      • pencilneck, on 11/19/2008, -0/+1You are correct Ford changing it's stance on the issue, but the real problem was Ford did something that stupid in the first place. Ford changed it's mind when it blew up in it's face, not because it was the the right thing to do. Any company, big or small, needs support it's fanboy base, not piss on them.
  • singularityv, on 11/15/2008, -1/+3All it takes is one member of DesktopNexus who has money to decide to file a lawsuit against Toyota for libel. Toyota is asserting that these images are copyright infringements, thus committing libel against every single creator of these desktops.
  • singularityv, on 11/15/2008, -1/+7Toyota is guilty of extortion.

    Demanding that the owner of DesktopNexus pay money for Toyota to identify the infringing images constitutes extortion. The owner of DesktopNexus really needs to file a complaint with the FBI for this; I am filled with glee at the idea of Toyota (the worst car company in the world) being charged with a federal crime.
  • lordgibbon, on 11/15/2008, -1/+3You think this is bad? I know someone who interned at one of their facilities, and their internal documents can't use their main logo, unless it's Toyota Motor Sales.

    Intellectual property is retarded sometimes.
  • TWiThead, on 11/15/2008, -4/+1It's a bit of an overreaction to vow never to buy another Toyota automobile. It probably will turn out that a single overzealous, low-level employee from one of Toyota's legal departments or an outside law firm is to blame for this nonsense. These things happen at even the best companies, and Toyota (at the executive level) should be given an opportunity to make things right.
    • secrity, on 11/15/2008, -2/+3We are unlikely to hear if the executive level overrides the takedown notice. Companies should have already trained their people that DMCA takedowns are bad business and issuing them WILL piss people off.
      • TWiThead, on 11/16/2008, -0/+1I don't know why you'd deem such a development unlikely, as this is precisely the sort of negative publicity that tends to get the higher-ups' attention. We'll hear about their response (if any) unless the website in question chooses not to report it.

        And it's clearly stated in the article that "these demands have not been sent in the form of a DMCA notice"; they're mere threats, most likely from a rookie lawyer or paralegal overreaching in an ill-advised attempt to make a name for him/herself.

        If you honestly believe that it's possible for a corporation the size of Toyota to ensure that its numerous legal departments and contracted law firms don't employee a single overzealous attorney, you're mistaken.
      • TWiThead, on 11/22/2008, -0/+1FYI: http://jalopnik.com/5095779/toyota-backs-down-from ...
  • D_Rock, on 11/15/2008, -0/+7Tell Toyota what you think: http://toyota.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/toyota.cfg/php/ ...
    • tommy7154, on 11/15/2008, -0/+1I let them know I'm in the market for a new vehicle and will make sure that it will not be a Toyota. Petty idiots.
      • se1zure, on 11/16/2008, -1/+1You are the one who is likely purchasing a ***** car for more money because of a wallpaper lawsuit happening to someone you have never met, not to mention you haven't even heard both sides of the argument....

        and you are calling THEM petty idiots???
  • detroitcity, on 11/15/2008, -1/+1Maybe Toyota should focus on building a proper F1 car.
  • redbinary, on 11/15/2008, -1/+3I don't see the problem here...a simple solution is to avoid buying a Toyota, Scion or Lexus....ever.

    That'll send a clear message.

    edit: One more thing...I hate the DMCA, it does not protect copyright holders, it is there to benefit large corporations.
    • locojones, on 11/16/2008, -1/+1How does it not protect copyright holders? If you had ever created something protected by copyright, only to find it misappropriated by any website you could find, you'd be thankful you had the force of law behind you to enforce your rights. Just because big business uses it doesn't make it bad.
  • MvP1292, on 11/15/2008, -1/+3Seriously...what the *****? Don't they have anything better to do?
    • se1zure, on 11/16/2008, -0/+1Than make a ***** of money?

      No... no they don't.
  • flander, on 11/15/2008, -4/+2It's possibly a rouge lawyer that is doing this to make money so he can get a BMW for Christmas.
  • pstroll, on 11/15/2008, -2/+2Toyota is the new GM.
  • SmilinJoe, on 11/15/2008, -1/+3Yeah, like they need to behave this way right now that the economy is ***** and they need sales and exposure the most. Honestly, how the ***** do these businesses make money with these tactics?
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