GayWired.com says Toyota has sent a letter to Daniel Grangier, president and CEO of Switzerland-based EBoys Studios. ToMoCo's demanding that the porn producer stop promoting the actor named "Lexus." The automaker claims the name Lexus is a trademark of Toyota Motors Sales USA., Inc., and "by using Lexus in connection with adult films, EBoys Studio is in violation of § 43 (c) of the Federal Trademark Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1125(c) and tarnishes Toyota’s business reputation." Toyota wants EBoys to highlight and delete any and all materials displaying the Lexus name. Grangier says his CumEater and SpunkLand star selected his stage name in honor of the Greek god Lexus, rather than a Toyota-produced luxury vehicle. [If anyone can find a reference to a Greek God named Lexus, please post below.] Ironically enough (well almost), Lexus the automotive brand began life staring at the business end of a name-based trademark infringement lawsuit. "Just prior to the release of the first vehicles, database service LexisNexis obtained a temporary injunction forbidding the name Lexus from being used as they stated it might cause confusion," Wikipedia reports. "Upon reflection, the court lifted the injunction, deciding that there was a low likelihood of confusion between the two products." I'm no lawyer, but I reckon the same principle applies in the EBoys case.
26 Comments on “Lexus Hooks-Up With… Uh… Maybe Not...”
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Could you maybe change the picture to like a GS450h?
Or at least something that shows less pubic hair?
I could say the truth hurts, but let’s not go there.
Well, according to the highly UNAUTHORITATIVE uncyclopedia:
“The word Lexus derives from the Greek God of wealth and vanity of the same name. Lexus was the most hated God of the Pantheon due to the fact that he always showed up late to parties and never participated in the group activities. Whenever Lexus is pictured, he holds a bowl of Caviar in one hand a gilded truffle in the other, driving a golden chariot with diamond spinners.”
More unenlightening information can be found at: http://uncyclopedia.org/wiki/Lexus
It’s too bad this is a weekend post- it would have made a good podcast topic.
I'll mention it to Mr. Berkowitz on Monday.
Somehow I don't think Toyota PR will want to discuss the matter in any detail whatsoever. Still, it's worth a try…
Gay porn primarily exists to piss off the social conservative types who are against it. I would not buy this video, no sooner than I would by a Chrysler Aspen, but both the gay porn and the Aspen have a target audience and both have a constitutional(lawyer speak, I know sorry) right to exist.
Lexus makes great cars, but the image of Lexus is ultra-conservative. I don’t think anyone would have noticed that this dudes name was Lexus, until Lexus made a big deal out of it. You have to wonder how many Lexus customers are log Cabin(gay conservatives) Rebuplicans who will find out about this and decide NOT to buy another Lexus out of principle.
All I can say is: TTAC will have to run a hell of a lot of Jill Wagner photos to make up for this one…
It doesn’t matter. Get a life Toyota, you give these queers attention by bringing it up. There are grafitti artist who paints LEXUS and ACURA as their handles on freight railroad cars where I live. Toyota and Honda need to stop these guys too. Toyota might be precieved as “too ‘hood” and might sell 1.5 less Siennas. (But it would be good PR for Scion)
And, the DVD cover with all the public library hair wasn’t needed. I’d rather look at a cheesy riced up 10 year old Mexican Corolla than that!
What a stupid PR move: just let Grangier fly under the radar by keeping your mouth shut. The only way this could be funnier is if I worked at LexisNexis.
Or if I emailed their Media Relations Dept and gave them the number of a bakery that delivered Humble pie. Which I would never do.
at least jalopnik puts a NSFW tag before you make the jump
PCH101—Truer words have never been spoken !
The first person to say “smooth ride” and Lexus together again in the same sentence will be flogged.
Waitaminnit…
I think Toyota recently had a problem with another, uh, actress going by Lexus Cash some time ago. Anyone know what happened there?
There was another female porn star named Lexus and she was red hot. If I remember correctly Toyota threatened legal action against her producer Vivid Films but nothing happened.
Would be hard to stop, I think. :-)
Still get a smile out of Alan Partridge wondering what to call more than one Lexus. Lexii?
So – Sexus and Nexus are probably book titles at risk, then?
Please note: the picture has been changed to protect the innocent.
There’s at least one female porn star that goes by the first name “Lexus” too.
Strange. I was thinking there was a cute blond porno actress named Lexus. There was. Her name was Lexus Locklear. [note: Link is to IMDB. No images.. but some pretty naughty film titles]. But she is retired. So perhaps that is why Toyota left her alone?
This was stupid of Toyota. They have just invoked The Streisand Effect. Dumb! Dumb! Dumb!
What I want to know is how this came to the attention of the legal department at Toyota.
Thanks to pch101 and Johnster for my best laughs of the day! And that Greek god, Lexus always beats the Roman god, Mercury, when they race, because Mercury spends so much more time in the pits than Lexus.
In the U.S., it is required that trademark owners continually defend their marks. Unlike a copyright or patent, which remains yours for the duration regardless of your active enforcement efforts, a trademark can be lost if others use it without your active efforts to protect it. Lexus is simply doing what it must to prevent the loss of its exclusive use of the name.
Escalators, cellophane, kerosene, and aspirin are examples of trademarks lost through uncontrolled use. Spam is a famous example of a brand that reluctantly, but actively, allowed its name to be used for junk email in a manner not likely to affect Hormel’s future rights.
I thought you were not going to work on the weekends anymore, Robert.
I also vote for more Jill photos.
With the new photo here, I’m beginning to think that Mr. Lexus here may bear a passing resemblance to a younger, brooding (and obviously randy) Rick Wagoner. Here’s a pic of the GM chief executive so you may decide for yourself: http://images.motortrend.com/features/consumer/112_0606_03z+rick_wagoner+general_motors_co.jpg
N85523: I also vote for more Jill photos.
How come no one else here likes Volkswagen’s Helga?
There was a Porsche in the adult film industry for quite a while. Maybe carmakers should turn the tables and come out with the Volkswagen Jenna.
Actually the porn star is right about there being a MINOR greek god but he got the spelling wrong as the character’s name is L-I-X-u-s who in Greek mythology was one of the sons of Aegyptus and Caliadne who are descended from the powerful patheon multiple times being far more human than god. Lixus’ only note was being married to and later murdered by Cleodora, daughter of Danaus and Polyxo.
The only other mentioning of “Lixus” in Greek myth is as CITY where the mythological garden of the Hesperidia, the locale for the golden apples which bestowed immortal life to the mortals who dared to eat them. Mayeb that is what he meant as being like the golden apples as is immortal and unending, referring to his sexual ability.
There is nothing specific of LIxus being related to either luxury NOR sexual prowess in Greek myth and of course NO SPECIFIC mention of LExus AT ALL in Greek myth.
So I am guessing the porn star is either lying or does not know any thing about Greek Mythology when he took that name as he mispelled it right from the get-go if he meant LIxus.