After a long week I found out that the advertising agency representing Toyota seems to have taken some creative license with the 9rules logo. Toyota Georgetown is having a conference where for some reason they thought it appropriate to modify the 9rules logo a little bit and use it as their logo for the conference. Here’s a little graphic design sequence showing just how closely their “logo” matches up with ours:
Flipped, color shifted, and some leaves jiggled around, but it’s pretty obvious. In fact if you line up their version with the 9rules logo 2nd from the right in that image, the big leaves on the left and right line up perfectly, along with the bottom stem. Here’s another image with their version layered on top of a flipped 9rules logo. I’ve pointed out the best parts :)
Now while the 9rules logo is not trademarked to 9rules, Inc., it’s still copyrighted to me. Back in April 2005 I documented my creative process over at Paul’s blog and there are hundreds (if not thousands) of references of it all around the Web so prior art is not the issue. The issue is that it’s just totally lame of them to do it to anybody.
I have been in contact with their ad agency’s legal department (meaning, they wrote me a really long email after I wrote them a really short one) and they still maintain that the two logos look nothing alike.
Since Toyota has taken a Web 2.0 Mashup Hammer to the 9rules logo, I thought it only fair that I mash their own logo up in a similar way. Everybody, I present to you, the shiny new (and totally original!) Business Logs logo!
Maaan, so much friendlier! While it may appear that I merely flipped the logo, re-colored it, and removed a small area, you can rest assured it’s completely and totally different from the Toyota logo in every way, shape, and form. Toyota logo? What’s that?
To celebrate megacompany Toyota’s willingness to use the 9rules logo for whatever they want, I now invite all of you to join the Toyota Logo Mashup Challenge! Grab a gigantic version of the Toyota logo from over here, change it up in some small (but totally creative and original!) ways, and then post a link to your version in the comments. Each commenter on this thread who posts a link to their version of the Toyota logo will be automatically entered into the Toyota Logo Mashup Challenge! On October 19th a winner will be randomly selected and they’ll get a $25 Amazon Gift Certificate courtesy your neighborhood Toyota Dealer…. err…. courtesy my wallet!
Aaaaaand get your engines runnin’!!!
About Mike Rundle
Bahaha, nice. I like!
Thought I’d take a break from packing and join the fun: new logo for not’yta!
(Didn’t know if you allowed image tags in comments, so I played it safe with a link.)
Ahahah! Hilarious!
While I applaud your desire to protect your creative work, this seems like a very passive-aggressive way to resolve the conflict. Did you contact anyone from Meridian or Toyota and ask them to replace the logo? If you truly care about this issue, that seems like a better response than just complaining or deciding that “two wrongs make a right.”
:)
Well, to be completely fair, you’re putting the blame on the wrong company. As you said yourself, the “creative” was done by an advertising company, not Toyota. Odds are, those who work at this single (likely independently owned) dealership couldn’t tell you if 9rules was a web site or a new sports drink. So when the ad agency says “Look at what we created”, there wasn’t any reason to contest it.
Also, it’s sort of hard to blame the entire company for the actions of, as I said above, an independent dealership. Generally speaking, they tend to have complete autonomy (No, umm, pun intended) with regards to what events they can support, what direction their advertising can go and even how management is structured. So again, blaming Toyoda for the actions beyond it’s control or knowledge isn’t exactly the right way to go about it.
Now, if you sent a letter to corporate and the dealership and their legal teams both responded with “LOL noob”, then sure, go nuts. However, if they haven’t been contacted and given a chance to respond, I don’t see what they’ve done wrong.
Finally, for the record: I don’t own a, work for or even like Toyota..heh.
My project is called 9IOTA, since it’s 9/10 of the original, with a little integration of the 9 and a leaf as a queue of the 9.
http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/6753/9iotaey0.gif (GIF/two colours/ 500 x 500 px.)
The logo for the Armenian Tire Organisation Yearning for Original Typefaces:
Imageshack img
Box.net Share
Hey Ryan, at the 9rules blog I dicussed how I have been in contact with Meridian Communications’ legal team and that they still insist the logos are completely different from one another. I haven’t decided yet if I will pursue the copyright infringement case any further, but I decided a little fun couldn’t hurt. All logos made for this contest are protected under Fair Use as Parody (as opposed to their rip which was for monetary gain) so it’s slightly different ;)
Good morning. Here is mine:
http://toyota-logo-mashup-challenge.yurab.com/
http://danieloliver.co.uk/images/uploads/toyota.jpg
Wouldn’t it be fairer to do this with the Meridian logo? I’d make an example, but I haven’t the design talent nor the wit.
Hey Mike,
Isn’t it ironic that the Meridian Communication catch phrase/slogan is “Brand New Thinking“? I agree with Joshua, I think a new Meridian logo is in order.
Well… it’s not that great, but I had little time and nothing to do. …so Here :)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v426/Waterstraal/Overige/Toyota_Grass_2.png
See the power of MSPAINT in action!
http://www.putfile.com/pic.php?img=3688798
Chad’s right- the Meridian slogan needs a “refreshening”.
Howbout…
Meridian Communications:
Yoink!
Look Mommy, I’m participating!
Man Bites Logo
P.S.:
@Ryan: I disagree totally with your notion. In almost every instance of copyright infringement- especially in a David v. Goliath kind of thing like this- the initial response from the big corporation’s lawyers is an almost automated one, basically stating, “we’ve never seen your logo before, ours is totally legitimate, now go away.” When going through the standard legal channels as you’ve suggested, it often takes a very frustrating amount of time and effort to get a copyright issue like this to even be noticed by an international company like Toyota.
It’s the freedom of the press (the new age press: blogs) and the freedom of speech that expedites such a process and gives the little guy a bit of leverage, which is what Mike has done here (though as stated, he has indeed gone through the usual channels already, and gotten the result I predicted). Not to be cheesy, but these are some the concepts the United States of America were based on, and as you can see, those concepts are proving to be much more effective in this instance than the ol’ “To Whom It May Concern”.
@Juvenall: It’s not an independently owned dealership. It’s a division of Toyota Corporate.
Small change* to logo (could be a cookie jar too).
*(got rained on w/his own .38)
Ok, image didn’t show in my last post … jsut a smiley wasn’t right so here is my entry.
Toyota diary
My entry:
http://blight.virtue.nu/images/toro_logo.gif
You have no chance to survive make your time…
This is absolutely insane. The worst part is that they’re doing the stupid legal dance (which absolutely nobody believes, and is only going to hurt their reputation) instead of stepping up as professionals and saying, “Sorry, we won’t do that again.”
wow right clicking on their website certainly made me laugh… not sure that was what this ‘cutting edge’ company intended.
The funny thing is, I used to live within 30 mins of Lexington, Kentucky and I had never even heard of Meridian Corporation. It just goes to show how small-time they are, and how they probably are not above something like stealing a logo.
For some reason, I felt like making a Toyota logo out of dishes. Dishes with roosters on them, no less. Here it is.
http://brainfuel.tv/postimages/toyota-dishes.jpg
I know I should have, but I just could not resist…
Motto: Are you a Piyate?
http://www.anoniq.com/favor/Are_you_a_Piyate-.png
This is wicked fun. I could see mashing up Toyota logos taking up all my free time. Here’s my first anyway, does it look familiar?
http://pixelgun.com/forager/totoya.png
You are wrong about not having a trademark on your own logo.
When you create your logo, by US trademark law you automatically have a trademark by default. The fact that it isn’t registered at the USPTO works against you slightly because the mechanics of proving your ownership involve more, but you DO have a trademark on your logo, if you created it or paid someone to create it for you.
This is fun… LOL :)
http://www.anoniq.com/favor/LOLOTA.png
Lol…I just emailed Toyota’s Advertising department and told them that they better not play with fire, ie the web community and the blogosphere. Especially if they’re trying to improve there image they better not go around stealing other peoples art.
I’ve seen them all and I vote for:
http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/6753/9iotaey0.gif
Jed: I think you’re confusing copyright law with trademark law. As I understand it, trademarks have to be registered, but copyright is automatic.
Haha, I love a good parody. And the green is so trendy!
Toy Oats Fertilizer: Because something about this smells.
http://www.owensdesigns.com/files/toyoatsfertilizer.png
Mike – check out their “terms of use” stated below:
–
Intellectual Property Rights
The information in this site is protected by copyright pursuant to U.S. copyright laws, international conventions, and other copyright laws. You may only use the information, text or graphics contained in this site for your personal, non-commercial use. You may not reproduce, adapt, or publish, in whole or in part, any content from this Web site for any purpose without the express written consent of TMMK.
Toyota, the Toyota logo, as well as other marks used on this site, are registered trademarks of Toyota Motor Corporation of Japan. The Toyota mark and other marks may not be used, downloaded, copied or distributed in any way.
—
If I could just emphasize that last sentence… Between this and the Meridian Communication catch phrase/slogan “Brand New Thinking,” I’d say we have a case of irony on our hands.
(All text in this comment, including the name Mike, are copyright 22Dollars.com)
My first time here… Found this page via reddit.
I liked the other submissions so much I decided to submit my own.
http://www.visgirls.com/img/boring-toyota.gif
-gc
http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/980/toyotalogoredverzf1.gif
yay
Gotta love those logos! Here is my version, not as clever as some of the others, but nevertheless…
My version
Thought I’d contribute mine. I flipped it horozontally and colorized it red :D
Click here
Don’t you love creativity?
nice competition… and great submissions mates
I support your cause, location here (Dutch):
http://ongezouten.wordpress.com/2006/10/15/plagiaat/
dats sooo coooolll … they neav thought they would be caught .. ha ha ha !!!!
Okay, I’ll throw my hat in the ring.
Mine
We have been weighing up between getting a Toyota Corolla or a Mazda 3. After reading this I think we are definitely going to get a Mazda. I’m boy-cotting Toyota, and I think everyone here should do the same.
The agency in charge should take responsibility for the mistake they made. I find their ignorance offensive.
@ Samalah. LOL. What a great version. Toyota Logo turned in to 3d. Fantastic.
Ok, I am not expecting to win with this image ;)
http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/1346/tosamasz0.jpg
Here a Web 2.0 version off toyota :)
http://www.yourep.com/track/Janick/medium/46120
http://www.yourep.com/content/thumb/Janick46120.jpg
My version!
This doesn’t get to be an entry, but I figured it should exist. Perhaps someone should create a better one? I just woke up.
Thing!
I like this idea much better instead of lawsuits.
My logo for the new South African company Toi-toi. Toi-toi is a South African word for demonstration.
Toi-Toi logo
I had to get in on this! It may not be appropriate for the younger ones in the audience, but I had to do it!
http://www.paulmalenke.com/blog/archives/9