Godzilla Takes On Tuffzilla (in Court)

Los Angeles - The owner of the Godzilla character claims in a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles that a dog toy is taking a bite out of the big lizard's federally protected trademark, according to court papers obtained today.

The complaint, filed last week in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles by Godzilla owners Toho Co., contends that VIP Products LLC, of Phoenix, Ariz., is making and selling Tuffzilla, a large-sized dog toy with an illegal similarity to Godzilla.

The Japan-based Toho objects to VIP's use of the "zilla" suffix, among other things, and claims the lizardlike dog toy infringes on its trademark, according to the suit.

A call seeking comment left with VIP Products was not immediately returned.

Toho seeks damages and an order barring VIP from making and selling Tuffzilla.

The company is responsible for more than two-dozen "Godzilla" movies and related toys, books and video games.