Allow Small Brands/Retailers The Ability To License The Toyota Name & Branding
Allow Small Brands/Retailers The Ability To License The Toyota Name & Branding
Why this petition matters
When it comes to Toyota, the aftermarket is strong. Tacoma, Tundra, and 4Runner owners are practically a cult and love to customize and modify their trucks and SUVs to their liking.
This has led to hundreds of small to medium size e-commerce businesses selling aftermarket parts, some of which carry trademarked terms such as Toyota, Tundra, Tacoma, 4Runner, and TRD. The problem is, unlike other auto manufacturers like Ford or Jeep, Toyota has never allowed these businesses to pay for a license to sell these goods.
As a result, Toyota and their law firm Dinsmore are aggressively targeting small e-commerce businesses selling these aftermarket parts, with cease and desist letters and threats of lawsuits.
Toyota needs to reconsider its approach to licensing and allow small brands and automotive e-commerce businesses the ability to pay to license their brand name and associated trademarks for commerce purposes.
This will continue to help them build their brand, provide new and exciting products to be developed by third parties, and provide ways for small businesses (the backbone of our economy) to make money and grow.