User blog comment:Titanollante/Zilla 1998 is Godzilla/@comment-25285745-20141108053549

I found this summary of the Godzilla 1998/Zilla controversy on a random website, but I think it actually gives a very accurate statement of the facts in this scenario.

"Though the creature has since been renamed "Zilla," it is important, however, to understand that the creature as seen in Godzilla (1998 film) and the film itself are still licensed by Toho and Sony as "Godzilla." The "copyright seal and circle" included on Godzilla: Final Wars promotional materials is likely the root of the misconception that the creature has been relicensed. To clarify: Toho often creates numerous variations of the same monster and licenses each as an economical practice, as the design of each variation can then be attributed to separate toys. This does not undo previous registration of the characters. You need only look at the fine print on the back of the "Godzilla: Monster Edition" DVD, or David Arnold's score of the 1998 movie (both of which were released after Godzilla: Final Wars) to see that the licensing in regard to the 1998 film is still very much in effect."