Autoblog

Back in June, we brought you news that Toyota was in the process of suing a pornography firm for copyright infringement. Apparently the Japanese automaker didn't appreciate that adult film star Lexus Cash was using its luxury division's handle as her stage name and for her website. Evidently unwilling to stop its litigation campaign, Toyota is now turning its lawyers loose on a gay porn actor who also uses the name Lexus.

According to latest reports, the Japanese automaker's lawyers in DC sent a cease-and-desist letter to EBoys Studios in Switzerland. The EBoys honcho insists that his performer chose the name because of its association with Greek mythology, and not with the automotive brand, and that the company will not cave to the carmaker's demands to recall the two flicks it has produced with the actor using that name.

This has to be the funniest bit of news surrounding Lexus since that peacock had its way with one of their exhaust pipes.

[Source: Inside Line]

The Detroit Free Press is reporting that Lexus has filed a lawsuit against two metro Detroiters who have commandeered the brand's name for their pornographic website and the site's star, Lexus Cash (yes, that's her at right). Lexus is claiming the two, uh, entrepenuers, broke trademark laws by using its brand name in a less than savory manner, which could result in the dilution of its good name. While doing research for this (somebody had to), we came across another pornstar named Lexus Locklear, but so far haven't heard whether or not she's also being sued by the Japanese automaker. Perhaps her brand of entertainment is a little more high-brow than what Lexus Cash offers, we wouldn't know.

Whlie the name "Lexus Cash" is probably a stage name, this got us wondering about other people who are actually named after cars. For instance, we've heard of girls named Porsche (yes, actually spelled that way, not like Portia de Rossi). If one of the Porsches of the world grows up to be a porn star, would Porsche the carmaker have any grounds to sue? We'll consult the AOL lawyers and get back to you on that one, but clearly Lexus thinks it has a case against Lexus Cash and her employers.

[Source: The Detroit Free Press via Jalopnik]