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Godzilla's TOHO Sues Over Monster Film Starring Anne Hathaway
posted on by Rafael Antonio Pineda
Japanese film production and distribution company TOHO has filed a lawsuit on Tuesday in California federal court against American film production company Voltage Pictures (The Hurt Locker, Dallas Buyers Club) for allegedly infringing on TOHO's Godzilla copyright. TOHO claims that Voltage Pictures used the Godzilla name and image without TOHO's permission in their efforts to publicize its upcoming movie Colossal.
According to an email (seen right) that TOHO claims Voltage sent out to "potential investors," sales agents, and distributors, the Colossal film will star Anne Hathaway as Gloria, a woman stuck in Tokyo while it is "under attack by Godzilla and a giant robot." The alleged email contains images from the Legendary Pictures' 2014 Godzilla film, and a picture of the Gō Nagai robot Mazinger Z. The alleged email also notes that Nacho Vigalondo (Open Windows, Timecrimes) would helm the movie, with Nahikari Ipiña (Timecrimes, Extraterrestrial) credited as producer. Colossal is scheduled to begin production on September 14.
TOHO's claim states that Voltage "intend[s] to use the Godzilla Character in precisely the same way that TOHO used the character in its initial film — attacking Tokyo."
TOHO is suing for copyright and trademark infringements, trademark dilution, violations of the Lanham Act, unfair competition and unjust enrichment. They are also demanding that Voltage Pictures halt production on the movie, as well as unspecified damages of over US$150,000 per infringement.
Sources: The Hollywood Reporter, Deadline
