Toho Inc., the proprietor of Godzilla and related properties, filed suit against Honda for the unauthorized use of Godzilla in a recent commercial. The famous lizard is seen for maybe a full second in a split-screen with Judas Priest's guitarist who is hamming it up. I honestly did not even see Gojira the first time through!
Toho claims "copyright infringement" and I don't think they're going to get that; Honda is not necessarily using Godzilla to sell anything. In context, the brief image of Godzilla is meant to communicate "blockbuster movie entertainment" -- to highlight the device on which it is playing -- and appeal to young men, as is the heavy metal. No one thinks he is going to get Godzilla, or even a signed photo of him, by purchasing a van.
That said, Toho may well win "unauthorized use."
© C Harris Lynn, 2011
A rambling melange of pop-culture.
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