Toho Company, Ltd. v. Sears, Roebuck & Co.

645 F.2d 788 3 ITRD 1063 , 210 U.S.P.Q. 547 TOHO COMPANY, LTD., a Japanese Corporation, and H. G. Saperstein, an individual, doing business as H. G. Saperstein and Associates, Appellants, v. SEARS, ROEBUCK & CO., a New York Corporation, Appellee. C.A. No. 78-3739. United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit. Argued and Submitted Oct. 8, 1980. Decided May 18, 1981. Thomas M. Small, Fulwider, Patton, Rieber, Lee & Utecht, Los Angeles, Cal., for appellants. B. G. Nilsson, Los Angeles, Cal., argued for appellee; Nilsson, Robbins, Dalgarn, Berliner, Carson & Wurst, Los Angeles, Cal., on brief. Appeal from the United States District Court for the Central District of California. Before KENNEDY, FLETCHER and FARRIS, Circuit Judges. FARRIS, Circuit Judge: 1 Toho Company and H. G. Saperstein appeal from the district court's rule 12(b) (6) dismissal of their action alleging trademark infringement and unfair competition. We affirm. I. GODZILLA AND BAGZILLA 2 Toho Company is a Japanese limited corporation. Since the 1950's, Toho and its licensees have produced and distributed movies and a television cartoon series featuring Godzilla, a fictitious, gigantic, green, lizard-like…