It was inevitable, so it should come as no surprise the Seattle's retro and import video game retailer Pink Godzilla Games is now in the process changing their name.
It had been reported earlier this year that Godzilla's parent company, Toho Co., Ltd. went to court to put the kibosh on the retailer's name through their attorneys claiming that it infringes on Toho's Godzilla trademark and copyright. The case is titled Toho Co., Ltd. v. Pink Gozilla LLC, CV 09-0830 FMC (C.D. Cal. 2009), and was filed in Federal District Court in Los Angeles.
It is actually amazing that the name has lasted as long as it has or that the owners dared to even use that name. I recall a sushi bar in the Little Tokyo section of Los Angeles used either Godzilla or Gojira (can't remember which) in the restaurant's name, but Toho clamped down on them too.
I can't blame Toho, for Godzilla is their property. I also find it amazing that many day care businesses dare to use images of Micky Mouse, Donald Duck, etc. at their places of business. The Walt Disney Company also guards the use of their trademarked/copyrighted characters. They have been known to send out Cease and Desist letters to these businesses and, if necessary, take them to court.
Anyone who uses trademarked/copyrighted characters has to be stupid for doing so and are only asking for trouble.
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