Toyota Demands Payment For Fan Created Wallpapers

[cawimmer430]

Toyota Demands Payment For Fan Created Wallpapers

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.

Toyota, one of the biggest car companies in the world, is often a name synonymous with quality. There is even a philosophy of doing business, called “The Toyota Way”, which emphasizes that the right result will come from the right process, and that solving the root problems brings the organization the greatest benefit.

This ‘Way’ is probably not communicated to its lawyers in great detail, which is why Desktopnexus, a site that provides desktop backgrounds, has been contacted by them. In perhaps one of the most wildly arrogant demands in DMCA history.

Toyota’s lawyers are demanding the withdrawal of all wallpapers that feature a Toyota, Scion, or Lexus. The site’s owner, Harry Maugans contacted Toyota to clarify. He was told that all images featuring Toyota vehicles should be removed, even images with copyright belonging to others.

Link: Toyota Claims Ownership of Fan Wallpapers | TorrentFreak

 

[Yperion]

I think it's fair that they will be prosecuted for putting a Toyota as their wallpaper..

 

[cawimmer430]

I think it's fair that they will be prosecuted for putting a Toyota as their wallpaper..

I have to ask this mean question, but who wants to have a Toyota as their computer wallpaper?

There are some cool Toyotas out there, but the vast majority are just ugh...

 

[Yperion]

There are some cool Toyotas out there, but the vast majority are just ugh...

The RAV4 is kind of ok , but i can't really think of anything else.

 

[LaArtist]

Toyota wallpapper?
i agree with the above comments..

on the other hand..toyota should be ashamed..

 

[Giannis]

There are a lot of people who drive old riced up Corollas and dream of a nice Avensis... But anyway, why does Toyota need to take this kind of legal action? Wallpapers make no harm...

This way we will all end up with flowers as our wallpapers...

 

[Tarek]

I have to ask this mean question, but who wants to have a Toyota as their computer wallpaper?

I was just gonna ask the same seriously there's no one single car from Toyota that i'd even consider having as a wallpaper,heck not even all models from MB can serve to be my wallpaper

 

[PanterroR]

I have to ask this mean question, but who wants to have a Toyota as their computer wallpaper?

I would, especially this one:

But to this:

 

[Beemer B773ER]

Well that's pretty freakin' stupid of Toyota!! It's free advertising..and the wallpapers are most likely created for the younger market, which Toyota are definitely trying to capture.
So much for thinking I could email a few of my Toyota Aurion TRD photos to Toyota to see what they say...

Interesting thing though.. I went to my local BMW dealer a few months ago, and I got questioned by one of the employees. Actually.. I wasn't "question", more along the lines of spoken sternly to that I was not allowed to take photos of their vehicle. Funny thing is, prior to that day I had visited that dealer on 10 or so other occassions with my camera in-hand..and I had even walked inside the showroom to take some special photos...yet this particular day the idiot salesman tells me I'm not allowed to take photos. So of course I questioned his reasoning, to which he replied that I'll need to get permission from the manager of the dealership... to which my prompt reply was 'Yep, that's fine. Is the manager in today so I can speak to him and get permission?' .... he paused for a second, and informed that he was in a meeting. Knowing I had this guy on the back foot I requested if I could get the managers business card so I could email him to gain permission. I was then very kindly escorted into the dealership, where the salesman gave me the managers business card.

I haven't been back to the dealership since that day...but I plan to drop by some time soon. Should be interesting to see what happens this time around.

 

[Osnabrueck]

I understand why Toyota would do this... and I don't. It's a fine line that sites like these dance, so... whatever. I think desktop images are retarded to begin with so I don't see the big deal.

 

[cawimmer430]

It's funny if somebody buys a Toyota, which they then own, and then photographs it, which means they own the pictures too and then you have Toyota knocking on their door expecting to be paid for that. Hilarious.

 

[Osnabrueck]

That's not really it. What's happening is that first-party images are showing up on the website. For instance, some of the Scion images that have been posted are shots produced by their Ad Agency and are only to be published with permission.

So really, it's just a shotgun approach that Toyota is taking.

From a marketing point of view, I don't know if this is a good or bad idea... really at the end of the day Toyota is trying to control their properties and really could give a shit if some guys who frequent a desktop wallpaper site get miffed. On the other hand, Toyota really wants this kind of viral marketing, so it's just a lame situation no matter how you slice it.

 

[Beemer B773ER]

The smart idea might then be to create an online competition where Toyota has a bank of car photos, and the competition is all about creating Toyota wallpapers or merchandise designs which incorporate these images.

Something like this might be good for Toyota and TRD in their attempts to gain respect with NASCAR fans (such as myself!!!)..and of course this can also be applied to the Scion crowd who are into riced-up cars.

Anyone know if any Toyota marketing jobs are available at the moment ?

 

[Monster]

Well that's pretty freakin' stupid of Toyota!! It's free advertising..and the wallpapers are most likely created for the younger market, which Toyota are definitely trying to capture.
So much for thinking I could email a few of my Toyota Aurion TRD photos to Toyota to see what they say...

Interesting thing though.. I went to my local BMW dealer a few months ago, and I got questioned by one of the employees. Actually.. I wasn't "question", more along the lines of spoken sternly to that I was not allowed to take photos of their vehicle. Funny thing is, prior to that day I had visited that dealer on 10 or so other occassions with my camera in-hand..and I had even walked inside the showroom to take some special photos...yet this particular day the idiot salesman tells me I'm not allowed to take photos. So of course I questioned his reasoning, to which he replied that I'll need to get permission from the manager of the dealership... to which my prompt reply was 'Yep, that's fine. Is the manager in today so I can speak to him and get permission?' .... he paused for a second, and informed that he was in a meeting. Knowing I had this guy on the back foot I requested if I could get the managers business card so I could email him to gain permission. I was then very kindly escorted into the dealership, where the salesman gave me the managers business card.

I haven't been back to the dealership since that day...but I plan to drop by some time soon. Should be interesting to see what happens this time around.

Which BMW dealership did you go to ? I got a feeling you went to the one in Paramatta

 

[martinbo]

Paramatta?!? Strewth mate - I had ding dong good party in a Paramatta night club once!

 

[cawimmer430]

The smart idea might then be to create an online competition where Toyota has a bank of car photos, and the competition is all about creating Toyota wallpapers or merchandise designs which incorporate these images.

Something like this might be good for Toyota and TRD in their attempts to gain respect with NASCAR fans (such as myself!!!)..and of course this can also be applied to the Scion crowd who are into riced-up cars.

Anyone know if any Toyota marketing jobs are available at the moment ?

That is a great idea. Even I would participate in that (in the hopes of gaining experience and having fun).

 

[Osnabrueck]

Marketers are trying that stuff all the time - to get fans to create their own viral content with the official blessing of the brand.

Problem is, it never works. If you ask people "Hey guys, go do something for us - it'll be awesome!" you end up getting the wrong people and/or you can't control what they create. You ask people to create Toyota wallpapers and they end up making something like "Jap Rice is Trash - Buy American" and post it on your officially-sanctioned fan site.

It just never works out the way you want, which is why places like this become the real viral marketing venues - because they've grown organically.

All in all, it's probably the wrong move for Toyota to do this. The neg far outweights the positive.

 

[Beemer B773ER]

Which BMW dealership did you go to ? I got a feeling you went to the one in Paramatta

Ding! Ding! Ding!.. you guessed right mate!

The dealership itself is awesome, and apart from this one instance the people there have been pretty nice. The only other dealership I've taken photos at is Toyota, and on one occassion I took photos without a worry, but on another occassion a salesman very kindly asked me what the photos were going to be used for... I simply stated that they were personal photos since I'm into cars and into photography..and he was totally fine with that.

Marketers are trying that stuff all the time - to get fans to create their own viral content with the official blessing of the brand.

Problem is, it never works. If you ask people "Hey guys, go do something for us - it'll be awesome!" you end up getting the wrong people and/or you can't control what they create. You ask people to create Toyota wallpapers and they end up making something like "Jap Rice is Trash - Buy American" and post it on your officially-sanctioned fan site.

Well I guess someone would need to filter through what is submitted. Only legitimate attempts would be accepted and posted online. I'm not too sure what the ROI would be for such a campaign, but it sure could be a simple tool when launching a new vehicle aimed at youthful market.

All in all, it's probably the wrong move for Toyota to do this. The neg far outweights the positive.

That I completely agree with. Bad publicity.

 

[Monster]

Ding! Ding! Ding!.. you guessed right mate!

The dealership itself is awesome, and apart from this one instance the people there have been pretty nice. The only other dealership I've taken photos at is Toyota, and on one occassion I took photos without a worry, but on another occassion a salesman very kindly asked me what the photos were going to be used for... I simply stated that they were personal photos since I'm into cars and into photography..and he was totally fine with that.

The dealership itself looks fantastic, but I will never step foot inside it ever again. I had to deal with them before, I got the feeling I am being constantly monitored, and they adpot a 'take it or leave' attitude when dealing with customers.

 

[Beemer B773ER]

The dealership itself looks fantastic, but I will never step foot inside it ever again. I had to deal with them before, I got the feeling I am being constantly monitored, and they adpot a 'take it or leave' attitude when dealing with customers.

You got that right.. I definitely get that feeling that they're watching every little thing I do..and I can tell they don't like the fact that a person like myself (young, clearly not a prospective customer, not dressed overly sophisticated, and with coloured skin) is not very welcome at the dealership. I feel absolutely out of place whenever I actually walk into the showroom... the stares I get.... it's a good thing I've dealt with that sort of treatment since I was young so I don't give a sh!t what they really think of me.

But next time I go down there, I'll very politely walk straight into the showroom and up to the reception desk and request if I could speak with the manager of the dealership so as to gain permission to take personal photos. Better to be on the front foot with those folks at that dealership... what's the worst they can do... say 'No you can't".