by Benjamin Haines » Wed Aug 09, 2023 10:03 pm
On a related note, what is up with all of the Toho-licensed Godzilla merchandise in recent years featuring reprinted kaiju art from IDW's Godzilla comic books?
https://www.scifijapan.com/godzilla-toho/godzilla-raids-brazil-with-new-themed-restaurants
https://www.scifijapan.com/godzilla-toho/godzilla-exclusives-from-fye
https://www.scifijapan.com/godzilla-toho/godzilla-mugs-doormat-poster-and-prints-from-pyramid-america
Those are just a few examples from earlier this year. I'm not against seeing that art reused but I notice that "TM & ©TOHO CO., LTD." is printed underneath all of those merchandise photos but none of the items with reprinted art include any mention of IDW or the artists. I guess Toho is ultimately the owner of licensed images of characters they own, and I'm sure the terms of their licensing deal with IDW allowed for Toho to do this, but it would be shady if Toho is monetizing this art in new ways without the artists getting a cut of the revenue. Did anyone who drew the interior art for any of IDW's Godzilla comics a decade ago know that their art would one day be printed on Toho-licensed shirts and coffee mugs?
