German Car Zone

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

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...

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

Toyota wallpapper?
i agree with the above comments..

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

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...

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

I would, especially this one:





But to this:

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.

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.